Israel claims rockets fired

The Israeli military said on Wednesday that a rocket fired from Gaza had landed close to the southern town of Ashkelon, just two hours before the midnight expiry of the ceasefire.

Police said a rocket - the first to be fired since the ceasefire came into effect on Monday - had landed in an open area, causing no damage or injuries.

However, according to the Reuters news agency, Hamas denied firing any rocket.

Meanwhile, news has emerged that a child was killed and two others wounded when a rocket landed across the border in Egypt, in a settlement to the south of Rafah. A 13-year-old was said to have died, while her eight-year-old brother and two-year-old sister were believed to have sustained serious injuries.

With the truce drawing to a close, talks mediated by Egypt in Cairo looked to be floundering with both sides sticking to their demands. The 72-hour ceasefire was intended to provide time for the sides to agree a longer-lasting truce.

Hamas is demanding an end to a blockade imposed by both Israel and Egypt in 2007, limiting the movement of people and goods into and out of the tiny coastal strip. Israel, which is wary of making any concession that Hamas could declare as a victory, says the restrictions are in place to prevent the smuggling of weapons and other materials deemed illicit.

rc/glb (AP, dpa, Reuters)