Yousef Al-Helou, Jennifer Collins and John Bacon

USA TODAY

GAZA CITY — Ten Palestinians were reported killed Monday when a missile hit a refugee camp here and nine Israeli soldiers died in multiple clashes as a major Muslim holiday brought no respite from tragedy in this troubled region.

At least two major explosions rocked central Gaza City early Tuesday during a heavy night of bombardment, with Israeli illumination flares and repeated explosions turning the sky orange.

Blasts hit a media complex housing the offices of Hamas-run Al Aqsa television and radio as well as Arab satellite television news channels. A loud explosion also was heard within the Abu Khadra government complex in Gaza City.

Fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants roared on as Muslims celebrated the holiday of Eid al-Fitr, marking the completion of month-long, dawn-to-dusk fasting for Ramadan. Hamas had agreed Sunday to hold fire ahead of the holiday, but even a strong statement from the U.N. Security Council calling for an "immediate and unconditional" cease-fire failed to keep the peace.

Ayman Sahabani, the head of the emergency room at Shifa Hospital here, said nine of the refugee camp victims were children under age 12. Dozens more people were injured in the strike, he said, plus several more were hurt when another missile hit the hospital compound.

Sahabani and Gaza police blamed Israeli missiles. Israel Defense Forces blamed Hamas. "Al-Shifa Hospital and Al-Shati Refugee Camp were struck by failed rocket attacks launched by Gaza Terrorists," the IDF said in its blog.

"We need to be ready for a prolonged campaign," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, standing beside his defense minister and chief of staff. "We will continue to act aggressively and responsibly until the mission is completed to protect our citizens, soldiers and children."

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri struck a defiant tone in response to Netanyahu's warnings.

"His threats do not scare Hamas or the Palestinian people and the occupation will pay the price for the massacres against civilians and children," he said.

The IDF said a Hamas mortar attack on southern Israel killed at least four Israeli soldiers. Officials at Soroka Hospital said nine others were injured, most from shrapnel.

Five more soldiers died fighting militants who infiltrated Israel through a tunnel from Gaza, the IDF blog said.

The IDF blog also said that "terrorists infiltrated Israel from Gaza in order to attack an Israeli community near the border. IDF forces responded." The blog later said one militant was killed and others were sought.

Other Palestinian deaths Monday included a 4-year-old boy who died when tank shells hit his family's house in the Gaza town of Jabaliya, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

Earlier, the IDF said its jets hit two rocket launchers and a rocket manufacturing facility in central and northern Gaza in three airstrikes ordered in response to Hamas rocket attacks on Israel. Hamas has fired more than 2,500 rockets into Israel, including several into Tel Aviv, since the Israeli military operation began, IDF said.

The Israeli military opened artillery fire on Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza in response to the rocket fired at Ashkelon, the office of Israel's military spokesman said in a statement. "Quiet will be met with quiet," it said.

More than 1,000 Palestinians have died in the conflict so far, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. Israel has lost 52 soldiers and three civilians, the Associated Press said.

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The U.N. Security Council called for the truce at its meeting early Monday and urged Israel and Hamas "to accept and fully implement the humanitarian cease-fire into the Eid period and beyond." The statement was not a resolution and is not binding.

Palestinian U.N. Ambassador Riyad Mansour did not hide his disappointment. He said the council should have adopted a strong and legally binding resolution a long time ago demanding an immediate halt to Israel's "aggression," providing the Palestinian people with protection and lifting the siege in the Gaza Strip so goods and people can move freely.

"You cannot keep 1.8 million Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip in this huge prison," Mansour told reporters. "That is a recipe for disaster. It is inhumane, and it has to be stopped and it has to be lifted."

Some Palestinians said Israel's ongoing siege of Gaza will not help topple Hamas and that an alternative strategy would be a better solution.

"We want an real solution to our misery – we just want to have a decent life," said Gaza City resident, Sadai Ahmad, 57. "We want an airport, a seaport. We do not want to rely on Egyptians or Israelis whenever we want to travel or trade.

"I cannot understand how the ongoing Israeli siege is helping Israelis get rid of Hamas," he added, before referring to prior conflicts with Israel. "Collective punishment did not work before."

Some Israeli residents called the cease-fire "a joke," adding that Israel must defend itself from Hamas attacks.

"The cease-fire is a joke. Every time there is an official cease-fire, the Hamas breaks it," said Jonathan Font Moxo, 39. "I really wish it would stop, but I don't think it will stop unless Hamas stops throwing missiles. ... If they don't stop doing it then the Israeli army can't stop. It's just what any other country would do in the world."

Israeli U.N. Ambassador Ron Prosor criticized the U.N. statement — though from a very different perspective from Palestinians — saying it lacked balance because it didn't mention Hamas, the firing of rockets into Israel or Israel's right to defend itself.

Israel says it started its Gaza operation July 8 to stop the rocket fire from the coastal territory and intensified it on July 17 to neutralize Hamas cross-border tunnels built to carry out attacks on Israeli territory.

But as Israel's Cabinet considered the Eid truce offer, rockets fell on southern Israel and Israeli strikes could be heard in Gaza.

Hamas and Israel had agreed to a 12-hour lull Saturday, but they were unable to extend the truce.

President Obama urged a "humanitarian cease-fire" during a phone call Sunday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"The president underscored the enduring importance of ensuring Israel's security, protecting civilians, alleviating Gaza's humanitarian crisis, and enacting a sustainable cease-fire that both allows Palestinians in Gaza to lead normal lives and addresses Gaza's long-term development and economic needs, while strengthening the Palestinian Authority," a White House statement said.

Collins reported from Berlin, Bacon from McLean, Va.Contributing: Victor Kotsev in Istanbul; The Associated Press