Netanyahu orders army to 'respond' to Gaza rocket fire

Netanyahu and Ya'alon ordered the army to "respond with force" to the rocket fire from the Gaza Strip, Israeli Channel Two quoted political sources as saying. Gaza-based Palestinian factions resumed rocket fire on Friday following the expiry of a three-day ceasefire at 08:00am. The ceasefire was brokered by Egypt following a month of incessant Israeli strikes against the Gaza Strip that left 1893 Palestinians dead and 9806 others injured. According to the sources, Israeli negotiators returned to Tel Aviv from Cairo, where Palestinian factions and Israel held indirect talks aimed at extending the ceasefire. The two sides, however, failed to reach an agreement as Palestinian factions linked the extension to Israel's approval of their conditions, including lifting a years-long blockade on the Gaza Strip and the creation of a seaport. The Gaza Strip, home to 1.8 million Palestinians, has been reeling under a crippling Israeli blockade since 2006, badly affecting the livelihood in the seaside enclave.