Israel Kills Gazan After Truce End

Israel killed one Palestinian and wounded three others in an air strike in Gaza, a day after the end of the truce.

Ali Hijazi, 22, was killed when an Israeli plane fired three missiles at a group of Palestinians near the northern town of Jabalya, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Three people, including two members of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, an offshoot group of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah group, were also wounded.

An Israeli army spokesman confirmed the attack, saying it was launched after two rockets were fired on southern Israel without causing any casualties.

Tensions have been surging in and around Gaza since the end of the Egyptian-mediated truce on Friday.

Palestinian factions said that they would only act in self-defense against any Israeli attacks in Gaza.

Israel killed 22 Palestinians in 195 raids since the Egyptian-brokered truce came into effect.

Nearly 66 Palestinians were injured in the Israeli attacks.

Palestinian factions refused to renew the truce until Israel lifts its chocking siege on the seaside strip.

Appeals

The Israeli attack came amid international calls for calm in the besieged Gaza strip after the truce expiry.

"The (UN) Secretary-General is extremely concerned at statements calling into question the continuation of the Egyptian-brokered calm in and around Gaza," Ban Ki-moon's office said in statement.

The UN chief called on both the Palestinians and Israel to extend the truce.

"A major escalation of violence would have grave consequences for the protection of civilians in Israel and Gaza, the welfare of the Gazan civilian population and the sustainability of political efforts."

The European Union urged the Palestinians and Israel to exercise self-restraint.

"I would like to express my deepest concern about the situation in Gaza," said French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.

"I know that this feeling is shared by all members of the European Union, which France presides."

Russia urged Hamas and other Palestinian groups to extend the truce deal with Israel.

"We received with great concern the information that (Hamas) will not keep to the truce in the Gaza Strip," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"Such decisions risk causing new victims and suffering to innocent people."

Egypt, which mediated the truce, urged Israel to reopen the Gaza crossings to help ease the situation.

"Israel needs to show more flexibility by opening the crossing points and allowing essential supplies into Gaza," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossan Zaki said.

Defying international calls, Israel has been closing all commercial crossings with the impoverished Palestinian territory, home to 1.6 million people.

The closure highlights the plight of people in the overcrowded sliver of land, sealed off by Israel and abandoned by international community since Hamas was voted to power in 2006.

Under the siege, people in Gaza live without electricity, water and sewage services for up to 16 hours a day.