GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - Egyptian attempts to broker an end to a monthlong war between Israel and Hamas militants collapsed in heavy fighting Tuesday, with Palestinian militants firing dozens of rockets and Israel responding with airstrikes across the Gaza Strip. At least two Palestinians were killed.
The burst of violence erupted in the hours before a temporary truce was set to expire. It left the Egyptian mediation efforts in tatters, and raised the likelihood of a new round of violence.
Israel withdrew its delegation from the Cairo cease-fire talks following a sudden burst of rocket fire Tuesday afternoon, and quickly resumed its campaign of airstrikes.
Palestinian officials reported Israeli airstrikes throughout Gaza that gained intensity throughout the evening.
Palestinian medical official Ashraf al-Kidra said two people - a 40-year-old woman and a 2-year-old girl - were killed in an airstrike in Gaza City. A total of 21 people were wounded in a separate airstrike that hit a building that houses offices of Hamas' Al Aqsa TV station, he said.
The fatalities were the first since a temporary truce was reached last Wednesday.
Israeli officials reported at least 20 rockets fired late Tuesday, including one that set off air raid sirens in the metropolis of Tel Aviv. There were no reports of injuries.
Israel's civil defense authority, the Home Front Command, ordered authorities to reopen public bomb shelters within 50 miles of Gaza.
In announcing the withdrawal of the Israeli team, government spokesman Mark Regev said the rocket fire violated the terms of the negotiations.
"The Cairo talks were based on an agreed premise of a total cessation of hostilities," he said. "When Hamas breaks the cease-fire, they also break the premise for the Cairo talks. Accordingly, the Israeli team has been called back as a result of today's rocket fire."
He would not say whether the team would return to Cairo, or whether Israel would resume cease-fire talks.
Egyptian security officials said Egypt was still pressing the two sides to agree on a cease-fire.
The breakdown dealt a tough blow to nearly a week of Egyptian-led diplomacy meant to end the heaviest fighting between Israel and Hamas since the Islamic militant group seized control of Gaza in 2007.
In nearly a week of indirect talks, Egypt appears to have made little headway in resolving the differences. Late Monday, it secured a 24-hour extension to a temporary truce to allow more time for a last-ditch attempt to reach a longer-term deal.