First Israeli death reported in conflict with Gaza

JERUSALEM, July 15 (UPI) -- The six-hour cease-fire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas began and ended Tuesday, as the first Israeli fatality was reported.

Israel said it accepted an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire Tuesday morning, but returned to bombing targets in Gaza when nearly 50 rockets were fired into Israel from Gaza after the start of the cease-fire.

By the afternoon, Israeli military spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner said, "We've resumed some striking in Gaza."

Palestinian authorities reported 185 people have been killed in Gaza thus far by Israeli bombings during the eight-day confrontation. Israel sustained few casualties and no deaths until Tuesday evening, when an unidentified civilian on the Israeli side of the Erez crossing into Gaza was critically wounded by mortar fire and died in a hospital in the town of Ashkelon.

The victim was distributing food parcels to Israeli soldiers when he was hit, Israel Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.