Family Life

01.27.09 | FL News Team

The now ten-day old Gaza ceasefire became strained today when an Israeli soldier and a Palestinian were killed. While neither Israel or Hamas is suggesting the truce should end, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak is calling the incident a "grave and unacceptable incident." He says "we will respond."

The Israeli military says a bomb was detonated near the border fence in the central Gaza Strip killing one soldier and wounding three. A 27-year-old Palestinian farmer was killed later in the same area by Israeli fire.

A Hamas spokesman refused to comment on who might have initiated the attack but told reporters Israel hadn't respected the ceasefire since the war ended. Ten Israeli soldiers and an estimated 700 Palestinians were killed during the Israeli offensive into Gaza that began a month ago today.

Following today's skirmish, Israel shut down crossing points that humanitarian aid and other supplies have been flowing through to the one-and-a-half-million residents of Gaza. It isn't clear when those crossings will be reopened.

During an interview with the satellite TV network Al Arabiya Monday, President Barack Obama suggested both sides resume peace talks. Obama said, quote, "the moment is ripe for both sides to realize that the path that they are on is one that is not going to result in prosperity and security for their people."