2 aug 2014

Fifteen Palestinians, including six members of one family, were killed Saturday afternoon in a series of Israeli airstrikes on homes in Gaza as Israeli officials said a new ceasefire agreement was off the table.
"We're not talking about ceasefires anymore," a senior official told the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
"Israel will act in its own interest. We will take action against attacks from Gaza, and will finish dealing with the tunnels."
The official said Israel would not negotiate with Hamas, even through a mediator.
"The issue of the Rafah Crossing is Egyptian-Palestinian Authority matter, and the issue of the rest of the crossings is between us and the PA and the international community."
He said the goal was now to end the offensive unilaterally.
"If we feel deterrence has not yet been achieved, we will continue the operation inside the Gaza Strip or exit and continue with the aerial bombardment."
Despite the Israeli delegation's refusal to participate, a Palestinian delegation left the West Bank en route to the Cairo talks around noon.
Meanwhile, Gaza medical authorities said Saturday's death toll had risen to 80, as Israeli forces continued their bombardment of the besieged coastal enclave by air, land, and sea.
Ministry of Health spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra said on Saturday that an airstrike on a house in al-Nuseirat refugee camp killed Yousef Madi and three of his children -- Hassan, Amin, and Abd al-Rahman.
Soon afterwards, another airstrike targeted a home in Rafah, killing four members of the Abu Taha family, identified as Saadiyeh Abu Taha, 40, Mahmoud Abu Taha, 27, Youssef Abu Taha, and Rizq Abu Taha.
A third airstrike on the Salim family home in al-Qarara northern Khan Younis left another Palestinian dead and several injured.
Six family members were killed in another Israeli airstrike that targeted their home in Rafah, and four of the victims were identified as Suhaib, Jumaa, Ahmad, and Fawwaz al-Bahabsa.
The 80 Palestinians killed in strikes on Saturday brought the death toll in Israel's offensive on Gaza past 1,670, with nearly 9,000 injured.
Little hope for new ceasefire
"We're not talking about ceasefires anymore," a senior official told the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
"Israel will act in its own interest. We will take action against attacks from Gaza, and will finish dealing with the tunnels."
The official said Israel would not negotiate with Hamas, even through a mediator.
"The issue of the Rafah Crossing is Egyptian-Palestinian Authority matter, and the issue of the rest of the crossings is between us and the PA and the international community."
He said the goal was now to end the offensive unilaterally.
"If we feel deterrence has not yet been achieved, we will continue the operation inside the Gaza Strip or exit and continue with the aerial bombardment."
Despite the Israeli delegation's refusal to participate, a Palestinian delegation left the West Bank en route to the Cairo talks around noon.
Meanwhile, Gaza medical authorities said Saturday's death toll had risen to 80, as Israeli forces continued their bombardment of the besieged coastal enclave by air, land, and sea.
Ministry of Health spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra said on Saturday that an airstrike on a house in al-Nuseirat refugee camp killed Yousef Madi and three of his children -- Hassan, Amin, and Abd al-Rahman.
Soon afterwards, another airstrike targeted a home in Rafah, killing four members of the Abu Taha family, identified as Saadiyeh Abu Taha, 40, Mahmoud Abu Taha, 27, Youssef Abu Taha, and Rizq Abu Taha.
A third airstrike on the Salim family home in al-Qarara northern Khan Younis left another Palestinian dead and several injured.
Six family members were killed in another Israeli airstrike that targeted their home in Rafah, and four of the victims were identified as Suhaib, Jumaa, Ahmad, and Fawwaz al-Bahabsa.
The 80 Palestinians killed in strikes on Saturday brought the death toll in Israel's offensive on Gaza past 1,670, with nearly 9,000 injured.
Little hope for new ceasefire

Cairo ceasefire talks were originally to scheduled for Friday but were canceled after a previously-agreed upon 72-hour ceasefire agreement fell apart, with Hamas blaming Israeli for expanding its operations in the lead up while Israel said Hamas launched an operation after the ceasefire had begun.
The delegation representing PLO factions was to meet in Cairo in the evening with Hamas leaders traveling to Egypt from outside Gaza.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said there would be no Hamas leaders immediately joining the delegation from Gaza, as Israel's bombardment of Rafah currently made it impossible to leave the Strip for Egypt.
Meanwhile, according to Israeli media, Israeli officials had decided they would not be sending sending a delegation in Cairo for talks.
"There's no point in promoting an agreement," a Israeli official told Haaretz.
"The inclination is to establish deterrence" and end the fighting by providing "quiet for quiet," the official said.
Israel and Hamas blame each other for the collapse of the ceasefire Friday, with Hamas saying Israeli forces attacked civilian homes in eastern Rafah after the ceasefire had come into effect and Israel claiming militants killed two soldiers and captured another an hour and a half into the ceasefire.
Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades released a statement early Saturday denying knowledge of the capture. It said a group of its fighters clashed with Israeli forces at 7:00 a.m. and that the fighters could possibly have captured a soldier at that time, but that it had since lost contact with the fighters and assumed them to have been killed by Israeli shelling, along with any prisoners they may have taken.
Israel begins search for soldier
The delegation representing PLO factions was to meet in Cairo in the evening with Hamas leaders traveling to Egypt from outside Gaza.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said there would be no Hamas leaders immediately joining the delegation from Gaza, as Israel's bombardment of Rafah currently made it impossible to leave the Strip for Egypt.
Meanwhile, according to Israeli media, Israeli officials had decided they would not be sending sending a delegation in Cairo for talks.
"There's no point in promoting an agreement," a Israeli official told Haaretz.
"The inclination is to establish deterrence" and end the fighting by providing "quiet for quiet," the official said.
Israel and Hamas blame each other for the collapse of the ceasefire Friday, with Hamas saying Israeli forces attacked civilian homes in eastern Rafah after the ceasefire had come into effect and Israel claiming militants killed two soldiers and captured another an hour and a half into the ceasefire.
Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades released a statement early Saturday denying knowledge of the capture. It said a group of its fighters clashed with Israeli forces at 7:00 a.m. and that the fighters could possibly have captured a soldier at that time, but that it had since lost contact with the fighters and assumed them to have been killed by Israeli shelling, along with any prisoners they may have taken.
Israel begins search for soldier

Israel said it was focusing its search for its missing soldier on the outskirts of the sprawling city of Rafah, an area home to some 210,000 Palestinians.
Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner said "our understanding is that the force was attacked by a suicide bomber, (but it) seems there were several other gunmen who carried out this attack," and that a soldier had been "snatched into a tunnel."
Israel considers the capture of its soldiers a casus belli.
In 2006, Gaza militants captured conscript Gilad Shalit and held him for five years before freeing him in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Weeks after Shalit's capture, Israel launched a 34-day war on the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon after it seized two soldiers, whose remains were later returned in another swap deal.
US President Barack Obama "unequivocally condemned" the killing of two soldiers and another soldier's alleged capture, saying that if those responsible wanted an end to the bloodshed, the soldier would need to be "unconditionally released, as soon as possible."
"I think it's going to be very hard to put a ceasefire back together again if Israelis and the international community can't feel confident that Hamas can follow through on a ceasefire commitment," he said.
3 killed, 5 injured as Israeli forces shell home in al-Nuseirat camp
Three Palestinians were killed and five were injured as Israeli forces shelled a house in al-Nuseirat refugee camp on Saturday, health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra said.
Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner said "our understanding is that the force was attacked by a suicide bomber, (but it) seems there were several other gunmen who carried out this attack," and that a soldier had been "snatched into a tunnel."
Israel considers the capture of its soldiers a casus belli.
In 2006, Gaza militants captured conscript Gilad Shalit and held him for five years before freeing him in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Weeks after Shalit's capture, Israel launched a 34-day war on the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon after it seized two soldiers, whose remains were later returned in another swap deal.
US President Barack Obama "unequivocally condemned" the killing of two soldiers and another soldier's alleged capture, saying that if those responsible wanted an end to the bloodshed, the soldier would need to be "unconditionally released, as soon as possible."
"I think it's going to be very hard to put a ceasefire back together again if Israelis and the international community can't feel confident that Hamas can follow through on a ceasefire commitment," he said.
3 killed, 5 injured as Israeli forces shell home in al-Nuseirat camp
Three Palestinians were killed and five were injured as Israeli forces shelled a house in al-Nuseirat refugee camp on Saturday, health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra said.

An Israeli official told Ma'an Saturday that most residents of the northern Gaza Strip "are allowed" to return to their homes.
Yoav Mordechai, Israel's coordinator of government activities in the Palestinian territories, told Ma'an that "with the exception of residents of Beit Hanoun," residents of northern Gaza could return to their homes.
Mordechai, however, warned Palestinians against approaching the separation barrier in the north, saying they could be shot if they did so.
Many of the residents will return to find their homes destroyed or damaged by Israeli attacks. Over 5,000 homes have been destroyed and some 26,000 damaged throughout the offensive.
The Israeli army has repeatedly commanded Palestinians in Gaza to leave their homes throughout the ongoing offensive on the Strip, sometimes detailing where Palestinians should go to escape bloodshed.
However, many cases have been documented where Palestinians follow instructions and end up being killed by Israeli forces in the places they are told to take refuge.
Over 250,000 Palestinians have been displaced by Israel's assault on Gaza.
Israeli shelling on southern Gaza City kills 2 Palestinians
Israeli forces shelled the al-Zaytoun neighborhood of Gaza City on Saturday, killing Hamdi Muhammad Abd al-Aziz Ayyad and his son Shadi, a health ministry spokesman said.
Yoav Mordechai, Israel's coordinator of government activities in the Palestinian territories, told Ma'an that "with the exception of residents of Beit Hanoun," residents of northern Gaza could return to their homes.
Mordechai, however, warned Palestinians against approaching the separation barrier in the north, saying they could be shot if they did so.
Many of the residents will return to find their homes destroyed or damaged by Israeli attacks. Over 5,000 homes have been destroyed and some 26,000 damaged throughout the offensive.
The Israeli army has repeatedly commanded Palestinians in Gaza to leave their homes throughout the ongoing offensive on the Strip, sometimes detailing where Palestinians should go to escape bloodshed.
However, many cases have been documented where Palestinians follow instructions and end up being killed by Israeli forces in the places they are told to take refuge.
Over 250,000 Palestinians have been displaced by Israel's assault on Gaza.
Israeli shelling on southern Gaza City kills 2 Palestinians
Israeli forces shelled the al-Zaytoun neighborhood of Gaza City on Saturday, killing Hamdi Muhammad Abd al-Aziz Ayyad and his son Shadi, a health ministry spokesman said.
Health ministry: 10 bodies pulled from rubble in Rafah
The bodies of ten Palestinians were pulled from rubble in Rafah on Saturday, health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra said.
Egypt truce plan 'real chance' to end Gaza offensive, says Sisi
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Saturday an Egyptian truce plan provided a "real chance" to end the Gaza conflict, stressing the need for its speedy implementation.
"The Egyptian proposal is the real chance to find a solution to the crisis in Gaza and to end the bloodshed," Sisi told a joint news conference with visiting Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.
"Time is decisive, we have to take advantage of it quickly to douse the fire in the (Gaza) Strip ... and to stop the bloodshed of Palestinians."
A Palestinian delegation is expected in Cairo on Saturday to discuss a truce, a day after a temporary ceasefire collapsed with Israel and Hamas blaming each other.
The bodies of ten Palestinians were pulled from rubble in Rafah on Saturday, health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra said.
Egypt truce plan 'real chance' to end Gaza offensive, says Sisi
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Saturday an Egyptian truce plan provided a "real chance" to end the Gaza conflict, stressing the need for its speedy implementation.
"The Egyptian proposal is the real chance to find a solution to the crisis in Gaza and to end the bloodshed," Sisi told a joint news conference with visiting Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.
"Time is decisive, we have to take advantage of it quickly to douse the fire in the (Gaza) Strip ... and to stop the bloodshed of Palestinians."
A Palestinian delegation is expected in Cairo on Saturday to discuss a truce, a day after a temporary ceasefire collapsed with Israel and Hamas blaming each other.
Israeli airstrike on home in al-Maghazi refugee camp kills 3
An Israeli airstrike hit the home of the Qandil family in al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on Saturday, killing Wael al-Sayyid, Muhammad Qandil, and Omar Qandil.
An Israeli airstrike hit the home of the Qandil family in al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on Saturday, killing Wael al-Sayyid, Muhammad Qandil, and Omar Qandil.

The US Congress approved $225 million for Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile defense system, credited with shooting down rockets fired by Gaza militants before they reach their targets.
House of Representatives approved the funding by 395-8 in a late Friday vote. The Senate earlier approved the measure unanimously before the start of its five week summer recess.
The measure now awaits President Barack Obama's signature.
The emergency spending funds, which adds to the US deficit, will restock Israel's Iron Dome system with interceptor missiles.
The funding is part of the administration's request of $3.1 billion for military assistance to Israel, the world's largest beneficiary of US foreign aid.
Congress appropriated $235 million to Iron Dome last year.
The White House had originally requested about $176 million for the system for 2015, but lawmakers increased the amount. Congress often increases funding for Israeli security projects sought by the president.
Gaza rockets intercepted above Tel Aviv, Beersheba
Israel's Iron Dome system intercepted two rockets fired from Gaza over the Tel Aviv area and another over the southern city of Beersheba, Israeli army said Saturday.
Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades said it had fired three rockets at Tel Aviv.
2 Palestinians dead as Israeli forces shell Rafah home
An Israeli strike targeted the al-Arjani family home in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday, leaving two members of the family dead.
House of Representatives approved the funding by 395-8 in a late Friday vote. The Senate earlier approved the measure unanimously before the start of its five week summer recess.
The measure now awaits President Barack Obama's signature.
The emergency spending funds, which adds to the US deficit, will restock Israel's Iron Dome system with interceptor missiles.
The funding is part of the administration's request of $3.1 billion for military assistance to Israel, the world's largest beneficiary of US foreign aid.
Congress appropriated $235 million to Iron Dome last year.
The White House had originally requested about $176 million for the system for 2015, but lawmakers increased the amount. Congress often increases funding for Israeli security projects sought by the president.
Gaza rockets intercepted above Tel Aviv, Beersheba
Israel's Iron Dome system intercepted two rockets fired from Gaza over the Tel Aviv area and another over the southern city of Beersheba, Israeli army said Saturday.
Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades said it had fired three rockets at Tel Aviv.
2 Palestinians dead as Israeli forces shell Rafah home
An Israeli strike targeted the al-Arjani family home in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday, leaving two members of the family dead.

Hamas' military wing said early Saturday that it has no information on the whereabouts of the Israeli soldier missing in Gaza, and suggested that he had been killed by Israeli shelling.
The al-Qassam Brigades said in a statement that it had lost contact with a group of militants that could have captured a soldier amid clashes with Israeli troops early Friday.
"We lost contact with a group of fighters ... when Israeli occupation forces penetrated east of Rafah. We suspect they were all killed by Israeli shelling, including the soldier, who, supposedly, was abducted by the group."
The statement went on to explain Hamas' understanding of the chronology of events that led to the collapse of the ceasefire on Friday.
"What happened east of Rafah Friday morning was that occupation forces took advantage of the alleged humanitarian ceasefire to penetrate our land for more than two kilometers. We estimate that our fighters who were in the area clashed with the Israeli troops around 7:00 before the alleged ceasefire went into effect."
"Then, Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling targeted Palestinian civilians after 10:00 a.m., breaching the ceasefire under the pretext of searching for a missing soldier."
The account differs significantly from Israeli army statements about the collapse of the ceasefire.
The Israeli army on Friday said that "an attack ... executed against (Israeli) forces operating to decommission a tunnel" occurred at 9:30 a.m, an hour and a half into the ceasefire.
"Initial indication suggests that an (army) soldier has been abducted by terrorists during the incident," the army said in a statement.
The US and the UN responded to the incident by reiterating the Israeli army's chronology of events, and called for the immediate release of the soldier.
"I think it's going to be very hard to put a ceasefire back together again if Israelis and the international community can't feel confident that Hamas can follow through on a ceasefire commitment," US President Barack Obama said Friday.
The al-Qassam Brigades said in a statement that it had lost contact with a group of militants that could have captured a soldier amid clashes with Israeli troops early Friday.
"We lost contact with a group of fighters ... when Israeli occupation forces penetrated east of Rafah. We suspect they were all killed by Israeli shelling, including the soldier, who, supposedly, was abducted by the group."
The statement went on to explain Hamas' understanding of the chronology of events that led to the collapse of the ceasefire on Friday.
"What happened east of Rafah Friday morning was that occupation forces took advantage of the alleged humanitarian ceasefire to penetrate our land for more than two kilometers. We estimate that our fighters who were in the area clashed with the Israeli troops around 7:00 before the alleged ceasefire went into effect."
"Then, Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling targeted Palestinian civilians after 10:00 a.m., breaching the ceasefire under the pretext of searching for a missing soldier."
The account differs significantly from Israeli army statements about the collapse of the ceasefire.
The Israeli army on Friday said that "an attack ... executed against (Israeli) forces operating to decommission a tunnel" occurred at 9:30 a.m, an hour and a half into the ceasefire.
"Initial indication suggests that an (army) soldier has been abducted by terrorists during the incident," the army said in a statement.
The US and the UN responded to the incident by reiterating the Israeli army's chronology of events, and called for the immediate release of the soldier.
"I think it's going to be very hard to put a ceasefire back together again if Israelis and the international community can't feel confident that Hamas can follow through on a ceasefire commitment," US President Barack Obama said Friday.

Medical sources said two Palestinians were killed and several others were injured, after the army bombarded their home in Gaza; several Palestinians family members have been injured. Remains of many Palestinians found under rubble of bombarded homes.
The slain Palestinians have been identified as Hamdi Mohammad Abdul-Aziz Ayyad, and Shadi Hamdi Mohammad Ayyad.
In addition, medics and rescue teams managed to locate the remains of twelve Palestinians under the rubble of bombarded homes in Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
The Ministry of Health said the remains of so many Palestinians are buried under the rubble in different areas, adding that the remains have been severely mutilated due to Israeli shells and bombs, and called on the media to wait for official names that would be issued by the Ministry of Saturday evening.
At least 120 Palestinians have been killed, and more than 600 have been injured, in Israeli bombardment of Rafah on Friday and Saturday. Fifty-six of them have been killed Saturday, while more than a hundred have been injured.
Earlier Saturday, three Palestinians died of serious injuries suffered after the army fire missiles into their homes in Central Gaza.
They have been identified as, Amro Tareq Hasan Qandil, 17, Wael Nihad Sayyed, 23, and Mohammad Taiseer Hasan Qandil, 20,
Another Palestinian died of earlier injuries, also suffered after the army bombarded his home, in Nusseirat in Central Gaza.
He has been identified as Yasser Yousef Abu Dbagh, 20, Nusseirat, Central Gaza.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza has reported that more than 1656 Palestinians have been killed, and more than 9000 have been injured, including hundreds who suffered critical injuries, since July 8.
The slain Palestinians have been identified as Hamdi Mohammad Abdul-Aziz Ayyad, and Shadi Hamdi Mohammad Ayyad.
In addition, medics and rescue teams managed to locate the remains of twelve Palestinians under the rubble of bombarded homes in Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
The Ministry of Health said the remains of so many Palestinians are buried under the rubble in different areas, adding that the remains have been severely mutilated due to Israeli shells and bombs, and called on the media to wait for official names that would be issued by the Ministry of Saturday evening.
At least 120 Palestinians have been killed, and more than 600 have been injured, in Israeli bombardment of Rafah on Friday and Saturday. Fifty-six of them have been killed Saturday, while more than a hundred have been injured.
Earlier Saturday, three Palestinians died of serious injuries suffered after the army fire missiles into their homes in Central Gaza.
They have been identified as, Amro Tareq Hasan Qandil, 17, Wael Nihad Sayyed, 23, and Mohammad Taiseer Hasan Qandil, 20,
Another Palestinian died of earlier injuries, also suffered after the army bombarded his home, in Nusseirat in Central Gaza.
He has been identified as Yasser Yousef Abu Dbagh, 20, Nusseirat, Central Gaza.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza has reported that more than 1656 Palestinians have been killed, and more than 9000 have been injured, including hundreds who suffered critical injuries, since July 8.

Israeli forces continued its assault on Gaza for a 26th day on Saturday, killing over 50 Palestinians as airstrikes and artillery shelling targeted houses and mosques across the Strip.
At least 35 of the Palestinians killed overnight were slain in Rafah, a day after an incident in the southern city led to the collapse of an agreed-upon 72-hour ceasefire.
Medical sources said Israeli raids on UN-funded public housing buildings in the Saudi neighborhood west of Rafah killed at least 23 people after midnight. About 15 dead bodies from the attack on the neighborhood were taken to the Emirati Hospital in the city and eight others were evacuated to the Kuwaiti Hospital.
Additionally, five people including three children were killed by a Israeli airstrike on the home of al-Nayrub family in the Sabra neighborhood of Rafah.
The death toll since the beginning of the Israeli offensive has surpassed 1,650, according to the ministry of health. Over 8,700 Palestinians ave been injured.
Israeli forces had also targeted Rafah on Friday after Palestinian militants carried out an operation in the city which left two soldiers dead and one missing.
Hamas' militant wing says the operation took place at 7:00 a.m., an hour before the ceasefire was to start.
"What happened east of Rafah Friday morning was that occupation forces took advantage of the alleged humanitarian ceasefire to penetrate our land for more than two kilometers," a statement from the al-Qassam Brigades said early Saturday.
"We estimate that our fighters who were in the area clashed with the Israeli troops around 7:00 a.m before the alleged ceasefire went into effect. Then, Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling targeted Palestinian civilians after 10:00 a.m breaching the ceasefire under the pretext of searching for a missing soldier."
"We lost contact with a group of fighters ... when Israeli occupation forces penetrated east of Rafah. We suspect that they were all killed by Israeli shelling, including the Israeli soldier who, supposedly, was abducted by the group."
The Israeli army said that "an attack ... executed against (Israeli) forces operating to decommission a tunnel" occurred at 9:30 a.m.
"Initial indication suggests that an (army) soldier has been abducted by terrorists during the incident," the army said in a statement.
US condemns capture of soldier
Though Hamas spokespeople challenged the chronology of events put forward by the Israeli army, the United States took Israel's version of Friday's incident at face value, and a White House spokesman called the Hamas attack a "barbaric violation of the ceasefire."
President Barack Obama said the US "unequivocally condemned Hamas and the Palestinian factions that were responsible for killing two Israeli soldiers, and abducting a third almost minutes after a ceasefire had been announced."
"If they are serious about trying to trying to resolve this situation, that soldier needs to be unconditionally released, as soon as possible."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, for its part, accused Hamas and other Gaza militants of "flagrantly violating" the ceasefire.
But Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhum responded that "it is the (Israeli) occupation which violated the ceasefire. The Palestinian resistance acted based on ... the right to self defense."
US Secretary of State John Kerry had said that once the ceasefire was under way, Israeli and Palestinian representatives, including from Hamas, would begin talks in Cairo on a more durable truce.
The Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad later said Egypt was postponing the talks after news of the Israeli soldier's capture, but Cairo said the invitation to talk was "still in place."
And president Mahmoud Abbas said a joint delegation, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, would travel to Cairo Saturday for talks despite the renewed fighting.
Death toll continues to rise
The morning after one of the bloodiest days of the Israeli offensive on Gaza, the death toll soared as Israeli forces continued attacks.
Ministry of Health spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra identified some of the victims of heavy Israeli bombardment on Rafah early Saturday as Asil Shaban Gheith, 3, Sufyan Farouq Gheith, 35, his father Farouq Gheith, 65, Ahlam Numan Zurub, 30, Amir Raafat Zurub, 18, Subhiyya Zurub, 55, Rawan Nashat Siyam, 12, Udayy Raafat Zurub, 7, Suad Numan Zurub, 34, Shah Raafat Zurub, 10 and Khalid Raafat Zurub, 8.
Additionally, Israeli strikes on the northern town of Jabaliya killed Fuad Muhammad Addada, 28, and Dawood Zakariyya Suleiman, 54.
Addada was killed by an airstrike on his home, while Suleiman was killed by raids on al-Umari mosque in the town.
Seven members of al-Shaer family in Bashit refugee camp south of Rafah were also killed by Israeli attacks.
Israeli warplanes also hit Imam al-Shafee Mosque in the al-Zaytoun neighborhood of Gaza City.
At least 35 of the Palestinians killed overnight were slain in Rafah, a day after an incident in the southern city led to the collapse of an agreed-upon 72-hour ceasefire.
Medical sources said Israeli raids on UN-funded public housing buildings in the Saudi neighborhood west of Rafah killed at least 23 people after midnight. About 15 dead bodies from the attack on the neighborhood were taken to the Emirati Hospital in the city and eight others were evacuated to the Kuwaiti Hospital.
Additionally, five people including three children were killed by a Israeli airstrike on the home of al-Nayrub family in the Sabra neighborhood of Rafah.
The death toll since the beginning of the Israeli offensive has surpassed 1,650, according to the ministry of health. Over 8,700 Palestinians ave been injured.
Israeli forces had also targeted Rafah on Friday after Palestinian militants carried out an operation in the city which left two soldiers dead and one missing.
Hamas' militant wing says the operation took place at 7:00 a.m., an hour before the ceasefire was to start.
"What happened east of Rafah Friday morning was that occupation forces took advantage of the alleged humanitarian ceasefire to penetrate our land for more than two kilometers," a statement from the al-Qassam Brigades said early Saturday.
"We estimate that our fighters who were in the area clashed with the Israeli troops around 7:00 a.m before the alleged ceasefire went into effect. Then, Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling targeted Palestinian civilians after 10:00 a.m breaching the ceasefire under the pretext of searching for a missing soldier."
"We lost contact with a group of fighters ... when Israeli occupation forces penetrated east of Rafah. We suspect that they were all killed by Israeli shelling, including the Israeli soldier who, supposedly, was abducted by the group."
The Israeli army said that "an attack ... executed against (Israeli) forces operating to decommission a tunnel" occurred at 9:30 a.m.
"Initial indication suggests that an (army) soldier has been abducted by terrorists during the incident," the army said in a statement.
US condemns capture of soldier
Though Hamas spokespeople challenged the chronology of events put forward by the Israeli army, the United States took Israel's version of Friday's incident at face value, and a White House spokesman called the Hamas attack a "barbaric violation of the ceasefire."
President Barack Obama said the US "unequivocally condemned Hamas and the Palestinian factions that were responsible for killing two Israeli soldiers, and abducting a third almost minutes after a ceasefire had been announced."
"If they are serious about trying to trying to resolve this situation, that soldier needs to be unconditionally released, as soon as possible."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, for its part, accused Hamas and other Gaza militants of "flagrantly violating" the ceasefire.
But Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhum responded that "it is the (Israeli) occupation which violated the ceasefire. The Palestinian resistance acted based on ... the right to self defense."
US Secretary of State John Kerry had said that once the ceasefire was under way, Israeli and Palestinian representatives, including from Hamas, would begin talks in Cairo on a more durable truce.
The Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad later said Egypt was postponing the talks after news of the Israeli soldier's capture, but Cairo said the invitation to talk was "still in place."
And president Mahmoud Abbas said a joint delegation, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, would travel to Cairo Saturday for talks despite the renewed fighting.
Death toll continues to rise
The morning after one of the bloodiest days of the Israeli offensive on Gaza, the death toll soared as Israeli forces continued attacks.
Ministry of Health spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra identified some of the victims of heavy Israeli bombardment on Rafah early Saturday as Asil Shaban Gheith, 3, Sufyan Farouq Gheith, 35, his father Farouq Gheith, 65, Ahlam Numan Zurub, 30, Amir Raafat Zurub, 18, Subhiyya Zurub, 55, Rawan Nashat Siyam, 12, Udayy Raafat Zurub, 7, Suad Numan Zurub, 34, Shah Raafat Zurub, 10 and Khalid Raafat Zurub, 8.
Additionally, Israeli strikes on the northern town of Jabaliya killed Fuad Muhammad Addada, 28, and Dawood Zakariyya Suleiman, 54.
Addada was killed by an airstrike on his home, while Suleiman was killed by raids on al-Umari mosque in the town.
Seven members of al-Shaer family in Bashit refugee camp south of Rafah were also killed by Israeli attacks.
Israeli warplanes also hit Imam al-Shafee Mosque in the al-Zaytoun neighborhood of Gaza City.

Gilad Shalit
Friday's disappearance of an Israeli soldier, apparently captured in Gaza, has echoes of the June 2006 seizure of conscript Gilad Shalit who was held by Palestinian militants for five years.
On June 25, 2006, the then 19-year-old Shalit was captured after militants tunneled under Gaza's border and attacked an army post, killing two soldiers and seriously wounding a third.
The raid was claimed by three Palestinian groups, including Hamas's armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades.
Shalit, who has dual Israeli-French nationality, was captured and his bloodied bulletproof vest was found on the ground.
A day later, the three groups demanded the liberation of women and minors detained in Israel in exchange for information on Shalit. The then Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert ruled out freeing Palestinian prisoners.
The attack was the first of its kind since Israel withdrew its troops and settlers from the coastal enclave in September 2005.
It unleashed, on June 28, a five-month Israeli military operation aimed at finding Shalit and ending militant rocket fire.
More than 400 Palestinians, many of them civilians, were killed, around 60 Hamas officials were arrested, including several ministers and dozens of deputies, and a blockade was imposed on the impoverished enclave.
Israel failed to find Shalit during the offensive, and a Palestinian spokesman said on Aug. 28 that he was alive.
On April 8, 2007, Israel confirmed it had received a list of Palestinian prisoners wanted in exchange for Shalit.
On June 25, 2007, a year after Shalit's capture, Hamas, which had just seized control of Gaza from Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah movement, released a recording from Shalit, in which he begged Olmert's government to do more to free him and said that his health has deteriorated.
In September the following year, then French president Nicolas Sarkozy said he had handed over to his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad a letter from Shalit's father, destined for his son.
On December 27, 2008, Israel launched a devastating 22-day military offensive against the Gaza Strip following daily rocket attacks by militants.
Then, on October 2, 2009, Israel, whose new Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had pledged to secure Shalit's safe return, released around 20 Palestinian women prisoners in exchange for a one-minute video of Shalit.
Between June 27 and July 8, 2010, Shalit's parents and thousands of supporters walked to Jerusalem from northern Israel to mark four years since his capture, to urge the government to go ahead with a prisoner swap.
On October 11, 2011 Israel and Hamas announced a deal under Egyptian mediation for Shalit's release in exchange for the liberation of 1,027 Palestinian prisoners.
Finally, on October 18, the young man who had become an icon in Israel, his picture emblazoned across the country, returned to Israel after 1,941 days in captivity.
Friday's disappearance of an Israeli soldier, apparently captured in Gaza, has echoes of the June 2006 seizure of conscript Gilad Shalit who was held by Palestinian militants for five years.
On June 25, 2006, the then 19-year-old Shalit was captured after militants tunneled under Gaza's border and attacked an army post, killing two soldiers and seriously wounding a third.
The raid was claimed by three Palestinian groups, including Hamas's armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades.
Shalit, who has dual Israeli-French nationality, was captured and his bloodied bulletproof vest was found on the ground.
A day later, the three groups demanded the liberation of women and minors detained in Israel in exchange for information on Shalit. The then Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert ruled out freeing Palestinian prisoners.
The attack was the first of its kind since Israel withdrew its troops and settlers from the coastal enclave in September 2005.
It unleashed, on June 28, a five-month Israeli military operation aimed at finding Shalit and ending militant rocket fire.
More than 400 Palestinians, many of them civilians, were killed, around 60 Hamas officials were arrested, including several ministers and dozens of deputies, and a blockade was imposed on the impoverished enclave.
Israel failed to find Shalit during the offensive, and a Palestinian spokesman said on Aug. 28 that he was alive.
On April 8, 2007, Israel confirmed it had received a list of Palestinian prisoners wanted in exchange for Shalit.
On June 25, 2007, a year after Shalit's capture, Hamas, which had just seized control of Gaza from Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah movement, released a recording from Shalit, in which he begged Olmert's government to do more to free him and said that his health has deteriorated.
In September the following year, then French president Nicolas Sarkozy said he had handed over to his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad a letter from Shalit's father, destined for his son.
On December 27, 2008, Israel launched a devastating 22-day military offensive against the Gaza Strip following daily rocket attacks by militants.
Then, on October 2, 2009, Israel, whose new Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had pledged to secure Shalit's safe return, released around 20 Palestinian women prisoners in exchange for a one-minute video of Shalit.
Between June 27 and July 8, 2010, Shalit's parents and thousands of supporters walked to Jerusalem from northern Israel to mark four years since his capture, to urge the government to go ahead with a prisoner swap.
On October 11, 2011 Israel and Hamas announced a deal under Egyptian mediation for Shalit's release in exchange for the liberation of 1,027 Palestinian prisoners.
Finally, on October 18, the young man who had become an icon in Israel, his picture emblazoned across the country, returned to Israel after 1,941 days in captivity.

After a declared ceasefire ended with massive Israeli airstrikes Friday, the Israeli bombs continued to drop on all parts of the Gaza Strip through the evening and night. Six bodies arrived at the Kuwaiti hospital early Saturday morning – they were victims of the massive airstrike on a market on Friday morning that killed up to 60 people during a humanitarian ceasefire. They have been identified as:
Haitham Yasser Abdel Wahab, age 16
Mohamed Issa Ashaar
Hossam Yassin Abu Naqira, 20 years old
Mousa Yasin Abu Naqira, his brother
Ola Bassam Al-Nairab
Arwa Mohamed al-Nairab.
The bombing of the Abu Suleiman family home in Rafah early Saturday morning resulted in the deaths of at least 7 people and the wounding of 30.
The people killed were identified as:
Fida Yousef Abu Suleiman, 23
Mariam Hasan Abu Jazzar, 60
Maha Raed Abu Suleiman
Mohammad Rami Abu Suileiman
Ahmad Rami Abu Suleiman
Lama Rami Abu Suleiman
Jana Rami Abu Suleiman
In Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip, a bomb targeted a family home, killing one:
Mohammad Fouad Al-Dedda, 28.
One person died of wounds sustained earlier Friday:
Issa Saadi Ashaar, 40 years old from the city of Khan Younis.
Haitham Yasser Abdel Wahab, age 16
Mohamed Issa Ashaar
Hossam Yassin Abu Naqira, 20 years old
Mousa Yasin Abu Naqira, his brother
Ola Bassam Al-Nairab
Arwa Mohamed al-Nairab.
The bombing of the Abu Suleiman family home in Rafah early Saturday morning resulted in the deaths of at least 7 people and the wounding of 30.
The people killed were identified as:
Fida Yousef Abu Suleiman, 23
Mariam Hasan Abu Jazzar, 60
Maha Raed Abu Suleiman
Mohammad Rami Abu Suileiman
Ahmad Rami Abu Suleiman
Lama Rami Abu Suleiman
Jana Rami Abu Suleiman
In Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip, a bomb targeted a family home, killing one:
Mohammad Fouad Al-Dedda, 28.
One person died of wounds sustained earlier Friday:
Issa Saadi Ashaar, 40 years old from the city of Khan Younis.