Islam Times - Israel carries out airstrikes in Gaza despite the truce

Islam Times - Israeli aircraft carried out airstrikes across Gaza early Thursday in response to Palestinian rocket fire and shortly after a new ceasefire brokered by Egypt came into effect, officials said.

An official at the Palestinian interior ministry reported four airstrikes over open ground about 30 minutes into the extension of a new truce, from midnight, which the Palestinians announced would last for five days.

Israel said its military was targeting "terror sites across the Gaza Strip" in response to rocket fire.

The military "remains alert and maintains a high level of preparedness with both defensive capabilities, and striking capabilities in order to address a renewed aggression and will immediately respond to any threat to Israel," it said.

A spokeswoman for the Israeli army said that Palestinian militants launched six rockets toward Israel late Wednesday, four of which hit open areas and one of which was intercepted.

No rocket attacks were immediately reported after midnight. An Egyptian official announced that both Israel and the Palestinians had agreed to extend the ceasefire.