Israel resumes Gaza assault as truce ends 

 

Israel has resumed air strikes on Gaza after its declared seven-hour humanitarian truce ended, pledging that there would be no end to its bloody military campaign in the strip without achieving long-term security for its people.
Late on Monday, Palestinian officials said an Israeli air strike hit a target next to a desalination plant in Gaza, killing two people and wounding 16 others.
Images of the bloodshed in Gaza, which has claimed more than 1,800 Palestinian lives and 67 in Israel, have sent tensions soaring across the region, earning Tel Aviv strong criticism for the soaring numbers of civilian casualties.
"How many more deaths will it take to stop what must be called the carnage in Gaza?" asked French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius.
Russia's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov also added his voice to growing calls for an agreement to end the violence, his ministry said on Monday.
In Cairo, truce talks between a Palestinian delegation and Egyptian officials were ongoing.
An Egyptian source said Cairo presented Palestinian demands to Israel on Monday and was pushing for an extended ceasefire to allow talks to continue.
"We are now awaiting the Israeli response," the source said.
Israel turned down an invitation to attend, with Hamas accusing Tel Aviv of attempting to scuttle the talks in a bid to avoid blame for its "escalating massacres" in Gaza.
The Palestinians want Israel withdraw all troops from Gaza, end its eight-year blockade of the enclave and open border crossings.