Israel suspends talks for Gaza truce

The Israeli government has suspended talks with Egypt and the United Nations for reaching a truce in the Gaza Strip, a senior Israeli official said on Tuesday.

Tel Aviv “has no contacts with Egypt and the United Nations on a cease-fire with Gaza", said the official, who preferred to remain anonymous because he was not authorized to speak to media.

The move came as Israel’s security cabinet convened Tuesday under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to assess the situation in Gaza.

According to Israeli Channel 7, the assessment in the Israeli cabinet is that “despite the severe escalation, Israel is not embarking on a large-scale operation or a ground incursion into Gaza."

UN peace envoy Nickolay Mladenov earlier said he was working closely with Egypt and all concerned to halt violence in Gaza.

“The escalation in the past 24 hours is extremely dangerous and reckless. Rockets must stop, restraint must be shown by all,” he said on Twitter. “No effort must be spared to reverse the spiral of violence.”

At least five Palestinians were martyred in renewed Israeli attacks in Gaza on Tuesday and Monday following rocket fire from the seaside territory. The Israeli army said more than 20 people were injured by rocket fire.

The Israeli attacks came one day after seven Palestinians and an Israeli soldier were killed in an undercover Israeli operation in the blockaded enclave.

Since March, more than 200 Palestinians have been martyred and thousands more injured by Israeli army fire during protests demanding the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their ancestral home in what is now Israel.