Just hours after a 72-hour ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was announced by Secretary of State John Kerry and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Hamas reportedly shot eight rockets and mortars at Israel. At the same time, Israeli tanks reportedly opened fire, killing at least 40 Palestinians and wounding 150, according to a Palestinian official. “Once again, Hamas and the terror organizations in Gaza have blatantly broken the cease-fire to which they committed, this time before the American Secretary of State and the UN Secretary General,” said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office. Israeli Defense Forces say one of its soldiers is now feared captured, as well. On Friday, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest declared that kidnapping was “a rather barbaric violation of the cease-fire agreement. Hamas is entirely responsible for upholding their end of the bargain, and it’s apparent that they did not do that." According to Gaza officials, 1,459 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have died and some 7,000 have been wounded. More than 400 Israeli soldiers have been wounded, while 64 Israelis have been killed, three of which were civilians.
