Watch above:The day began with optimism that Israel and Hamas would both agree to a ceasefire. But, it wasn’t to be. Eric Sorensen explains.
JERUSALEM – Israeli police say a man in his 30s has been killed by fire from the Gaza Strip, the first Israeli death in more than a week of fighting.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said that Israeli man was delivering food to soldiers Tuesday at the Erez Crossing with Gaza when he was struck by a mortar.
Nearly 200 Palestinians have been killed in strikes in Gaza since Israel launched the campaign over a week ago to stop rocket fire at its citizens.
READ MORE: Hamas not interested in peace as ceasefire rejected, says Baird
Gaza militants have fired more than 1,100 rockets toward Israel in the fighting. Mostly thanks to its “Iron Dome” defence system, no Israelis were killed till Tuesday.
Rosenfeld said at least 15 Israelis, including several children, have been injured by the Palestinian rocket fire since the fighting began.
Netanyahu says Israel will hit Hamas ‘with great force’
Israel’s leader says the country will exert “great force” against Gaza’s Hamas rulers after the Islamic militants rejected a truce agreement.
READ MORE: What you need to know about Egypt’s Israel-Gaza ceasefire proposal
Israel halted its fire for six hours Tuesday after accepting an Egyptian truce proposal. But with Hamas continuing to launch rockets into Israel, it resumed strikes in the afternoon.
Benjamin Netanyahu said in an evening address aired live on television that Israel has “no choice” but to respond more forcefully.
READ MORE: Netanyahu says international pressure won’t stop Gaza strikes
Netanyahu said “Hamas chose to continue fighting and will pay the price for that decision.”
WATCH: Palestinians in Gaza on Tuesday mourned the death of five people killed in overnight air strikes launched by Israel, including a four-year old girl
The Israeli military says Gaza militants fired close to 125 rockets since the truce was to have begun. An Israeli civilian was killed Tuesday by fire from the Gaza Strip, the first Israeli death in more than a week of fighting.
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