231 Gaza Rockets Fired Since Tuesday: Israel

An Israeli army spokesman said 231 rockets had been fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip since the collapse on Tuesday of a temporary ceasefire between Palestinian resistance factions and the self-proclaimed Jewish state.



"231 rockets have been launched at Israel since Hamas ended the ceasefire," army spokesman Peter Lerner said Thursday on Twitter.



He said 37 rockets had been intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile defense system, while 16 others had fallen to earth inside the Gaza Strip.



Violence flared again Tuesday following the collapse of Egypt-hosted indirect talks aimed at reaching a permanent ceasefire deal, with Israel accusing Palestinian resistance factions of violating a temporary truce with a rocket barrage.



The claim was denied by Hamas, however, which in turn accused Israel of attempting to derail the ceasefire talks in Cairo.



Since hostilities began on July 7, at least 2054 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip – the vast majority of them civilians – and more than 10,000 injured in relentless Israeli attacks, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.



According to Israeli figures, meanwhile, at least 67 Israelis have been killed: 64 soldiers in ground operations inside the Gaza Strip and three civilians by Gaza rocket fire.



Since 2007, the Gaza Strip has reeled under a crippling Israeli blockade that has taken an enormous toll on the coastal territory's economy and played havoc with residents' livelihoods.



By Abdel-Raouf Arnaout



englishnews@aa.com.tr



www.aa.com.tr/en - İsrail