Israel and Hamas trade blame over truce amid strikes on Gaza

GAZA CIVIL DEFENCE SAYS AT LEAST 11 KILLED IN ISRAELI STRIKES YESTERDAY

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Gaza's nine-day-old ceasefire came under strain yesterday after the Israeli army said it launched air strikes in the territory's south in response to attacks it claimed were carried out by Hamas militants against its forces.

Gaza civil defence says at least 11 were killed in Israeli strikes yesterday.

Hamas, however, maintained it was adhering to the truce, with one official accusing Israel of devising "pretexts" to resume its own attacks.

Israel: Ceasefire violation

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed security forces to take "strong action against terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip", his office said in a statement, accusing Hamas of "a ceasefire violation".