"Hell on Earth has returned to Gaza," said Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the U.N. humanitarian office in Geneva.
Israeli assaults since have laid waste much of Gaza, which Hamas has ruled since 2007.
Sirens blared across southern Israel as militants fired rockets from the coastal enclave into towns.
U.S. AND HAMAS TRADE ACCUSATIONSThe United States blamed Hamas for the renewed fighting, saying it had failed to produce a new list of hostages to release.
The United States is working on a plan with Israel to minimize harm to civilians in any military operation in southern Gaza, a senior U.S. official said.
Persons:
Khan Younis, Abu Mustafa, Jens Laerke, Martin Griffiths, Israel, Antony Blinken, Mark Warner, Washington, Crescent, Gazans, Khan, Mohammed Abu, Suhaib, Nidal, Mohammed Salem, Humeyra Pamuk, Ari Rabinovich, Emily Rose, Andrew Mills, David Brunnstrom, Grant McCool
Organizations:
REUTERS, United Nations, Hamas, Tel, Hezbollah, Reuters, Democratic U.S, Senate Intelligence, Palestinian, Thomson
Locations:
Israel, Gaza, GAZA, Geneva, QATAR, Qatar, Radwan, Tel Aviv, Lebanon, Iran, Lebanese, States, Jerusalem, Washington, United States, Israeli, Rafah, Egypt, U.S, Khan Younis, Khan, Suhaib Salem, Cairo, Doha