GAZA CITY: Israeli warplanes pounded Gaza for a fourth day on Monday, killing six more Palestinians, as a teenager died in a mystery blast, raising the death toll so
far to 25.
Hamas officials said efforts mediated by Egypt to restore a ceasefire were continuing, but denied any breakthrough.
Israeli and Palestinian sources reported four air strikes on Monday evening, which Palestinian medics said left two people dead.
Islamic Jihad named the men as its members Bassam al-Ajla and Mohammed Dahir, and the Israeli military confirmed the raid, saying it targeted a "terrorist cell that was preparing to fire rockets."
The army also reported two more evening raids, one targeting "two rocket-launching sites" in northern Gaza and another against a "tunnel used by terrorists" under the border with Egypt.
And Palestinian sources reported a fourth strike in Beit Lahiya, in northern Gaza. There were no reports of injuries.
In a statement, Hamas prime minister Ismail Haniya said efforts by Egypt to broker a ceasefire were continuing, but Hamas sources said no truce deal had yet been reached.
The violence continued throughout the day on Monday, with an Israeli air strike on the Jabaliya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip killing 65-year-Mohamed Mustafa al-Hasumi and his 35-year-old daughter Faiza, medics said, describing both as civilians. (AFP)
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