Hospital officials say Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 28 Palestinians in Gaza, including four children.

Indirect talks between Israel and Hamas on a 60-day ceasefire in the Gaza war have stalled, with both sides blaming the other for the lack of progress, sources told dpa on Saturday. The talks in the Qatari capital Doha,

Indirect talks between Hamas and Israel for a ceasefire in Gaza are being held up by Israel's proposals to keep troops in the territory, two Palestinian sources with knowledge of the discussions told AFP on Saturday.

The mortar shell struck just two seconds after the red alert blared out, giving the group of children playing football no time to react.

While UN and European officials hope that a cease-fire deal would help ease suffering among the Strip’s population, Israelis worry that as in the

Cash is the lifeblood of the Gaza Strip’s shattered economy, and like all other necessities in this war-torn territory -- food, fuel, medicine -- it is in extremely short supply.

The Israeli military said in a statement that over the past 48 hours, troops struck approximately 250 targets in the Gaza Strip.

Last Monday, the Israeli army acknowledged the deaths of five soldiers from the "Netzah Yehuda" Battalion of the "Kfir" Brigade and injury to 14 others, including two with serious wounds, in a battle in Beit Hanoun.