Israeli air strikes have killed four Palestinians in Gaza as European governments sought UN action to end more than six weeks of bloodshed. Fighting flared anew on Tuesday as Egyptian-brokered truce efforts collapsed, with Israel insistent on its demand for security from rocket fire by Gaza militants, and Hamas defiant over its call for an end to eight years of Israeli blockade. The death toll since July 8 now stands at least 2087 Palestinians dead, three-quarters of them civilians according...

The official was quoted as saying that the Egyptian-mediated truce took effect at 01:00 local time (23:00 GMT Monday). A Hamas official later confirmed to the BBC that the truce had been agreed. At least 25 Palestinians have died in Israeli air strikes since Friday, reports say. Israel says 35 people were injured in Palestinian rocket attacks. The Egyptian official - who spoke on condition of anonymity - was quoted by Reuters as saying late on Monday that both Israel and Gaza militants had "agreed...