Violence resumes after pause for aid in Gaza

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Source: CCTV.com | 01-08-2009 09:28

Israelis are bracing for new rocket attacks, after fighting resumed in the Gaza Strip following a three-hour pause for humanitarian aid deliveries on Wednesday.

An Israeli soldier gestures atop a mobile artillery unit as the sun sets over the central Gaza Strip  January 5, 2009.REUTERS/Gil Cohen Magen

International diplomatic efforts are also continuing to work out details of a possible ceasefire.

Israel announced a pause in its offensive to allow food and fuel to reach besieged Palestinians. Hamas said it would respect the firing pause from 1 pm to 4 pm local time.

Shortly after the period ended, Israel resumed pounding targets in Gaza and Hamas resumed rocket fire towards Israel.

Two Hamas rockets landed in a southern Israeli town after the lull in fighting, causing no reported injuries.

Meanwhile, international diplomatic efforts continued on Wednesday. French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Israel and the Palestinian National Authority have accepted an Egyptian-French plan to end the violence in Gaza.

Sarkozy did not give details of the plan, but an Israeli spokesman indicated that the plan appeared to go beyond what Israel was willing to commit to.