Israeli tank fire killed a four-year-old boy in the northern Gaza Strip today, the first death since the two sides began observing an unofficial lull in fighting.
Israeli jets pounded several sites in Gaza after a rocket was launched at Israel. However, an Israeli army spokesman said there were no air strikes on Gaza since last night but that one rocket was fired from Gaza last night and another this morning, with the army responding to it.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon asked both the parties to immediately halt violence in Gaza, saying the Palestinian territory is in a "critical condition".
"In the name of humanity, the violence must stop," he told reporters.
Also Read
Shortly after he spoke, there were reports of two explosions in Gaza City - one in a children's playground and one near Gaza's main hospital.
Seven children killed when the Israeli missile hit the playground, a Palestinian official said.
The Gaza health ministry yesterday revised the number of Palestinian dead down by 30 after some relatives found missing family members.
The UN Security Council late last night called for an "immediate and unconditional humanitarian ceasefire" between Israel and Palestine, asking the parties to implement the truce beyond the Muslim holiday of Eid and allow delivery of urgently needed assistance in Gaza.