Fighting has resumed between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, with both sides blaming each other for breaking the truce.

Israel says that it launched air strikes on three “terror targets” within Gaza after three rockets were fired towards the towns of Beersheba and Netivot in “a grave and direct violation of the ceasefire“.

Meanwhile, Palestinians claim that Israel fired two artillery shells at Khan Younis, despite an agreement between the two sides to extend the five day truce for a further 24 hours.

The resumption of hostilities comes after Egyptian mediators, holding indirect talks between Israel and Hamas, struggled to find a consensus on the future of the Gaza Strip, with Israel pushing for total demilitarisation, while the Palestinians are looking for Israel to end its seven-year siege.

Earlier, senior Fatah delegate Azzam al-Ahmad, said there had been “no progress on any point” in the negotiations.

Israel launched Operation Defensive Edge on 8 July with an aim of ending rocket fire from Gaza and destroying a number of tunnels beneath the overpopulated area.

Throughout weeks of fighting, 2,016 Palestinians, mostly civilians, 64 Israeli soldiers and two Israeli civilians have been killed.