Gaza's Death Toll Jumps To 1630

Eight Palestinians, including four members of the same family, were killed and 55 others injured early on Saturday by Israeli strikes in different parts of the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.



"The new fatalities raise to 1630 death toll in the Gaza Strip from Israel's war since the beginning of this war on July 7," Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qodra said.



"The new casualties also raise to 8850 the number of Palestinians who were injured by this war," al-Qodra added.



He added that most of the attacks in the past few hours targeted the southern Gaza Strip City of Rafah where 81 people were killed by Israeli strikes and 445 others injured since Friday.



A 72-hour humanitarian truce that started at 8: 00am (0500 GMT) on Friday collapsed a short time later when Israel resumed its strikes against Rafah city.



Israel said it did not abide by the ceasefire after one of its army units was attacked in the southern part of Gaza, accusing Hamas of violating the ceasefire.



The Israeli army said later that one of its troops was abducted, while two of his colleagues were killed.



The truce was mediated by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and United States Secretary of States John Kerry. Israel and the Palestinians should have sent negotiators to discuss a durable ceasefire in the Egyptian capital Cairo.



Israel's attacks were, however, considered by the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas as an attempt by Israel to mislead the world and justify its killing of Palestinian civilians.



The movement did not either deny or confirm the abduction of the Israeli soldier.



By Mustafa Haboosh



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