Fishermen took to their boats in the coastal Palestinian enclave, as Gazans emerged from sheltering in their homes during the fierce exchange of fire.
The fighting broke out Tuesday with Israeli strikes on the Islamic Jihad militant group. It ceased late Saturday following days of truce talks led by Egypt.
But on Sunday evening, the Israeli army said one rocket launched from the Gaza Strip “fell in an open area” in Israel’s south, prompting retaliatory artillery fire at two military positions in the northern strip.
Islamic Jihad said in a statement the rocket fire was the result of a “technical error”, stressing the militant group “respects the ceasefire”.
As the skies fell silent, residents were left to mourn the 33 people killed in Gaza, as well as the two in Israel — a Palestinian labourer from the blockaded territory and an elderly Israeli.
More than 50 homes were destroyed and around 950 people displaced in Gaza, said the United Nations, citing local officials.
“We’re on the street. There’s no home for my children or their children,” said Mohammed al-Louh, whose house was destroyed by Israeli strikes.
Medics said 190 people were wounded in Gaza and, in Israel, seven received injuries directly resulting from Palestinian rocket fire.
Read the article in The Australian (AFP).