Amid Gaza Ceasefire, No Sign of Calm to Come

Palestinians walk by the rubble of houses destroyed by Israeli strikes in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza Strip, Saturday, July 26, 2014. (Photo: AP/Lefteris Pitarakis)

Amid Gaza Ceasefire, No Sign of Calm to Come

Temporary reprieve on Saturday; death toll now past 1,000

Amidst a temporary ceasefire on Saturday, Gaza residents sought food and supplies as well as loved ones buried in rubble.

"Nothing is left. Everything I have is gone," the Associated Press reports 37-year-old Siham Kafarneh, a mother of 8, as saying.

Originally a 12-hour ceasefire, Israel announced it would extend it by four hours.

However, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Friday that it would continue to "locate and neutralize terror tunnels" in Gaza during the supposed ceasefire.

Just ahead of the start of the ceasefire, an Israeli strike near the town of Khan Younis killed 18 members of the same family, including 5 children.

The death toll of Palestinians from the current attack now stands at 1030, including many woman and children, Gaza's health ministry said. IDF said that its military death toll was now at 37. Two Israeli civilians and a Thai worker have also been killed.

Among those killed in Gaza was 45-year-old Hashem Khader Abu Maria, a staff member of child rights organization Defense for Children International-Palestine.

Abu Maria was shot dead by Israeli forces Friday while taking part in a peaceful demonstration, according to the group.

More lives may continue to be lost, as Israel's Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon and security cabinet minister Gilad Erdan indicated that the operation may expand.

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