War between Israel and Hamas has killed at least 1,500 Palestinians, mainly civilians, and more than 60 Israelis

Truce started at 8am local time (6am GMT) to give Gazans chance of humanitarian relief and time to bury the dead

More than 50 Palestinians were reportedly killed and further 200 injured in 'random' shelling in the town of Rafah

Military wing of Hamas claims kidnapping happened before the truce and accused Israel of 'violating' peace deal

But Israel resumed shelling in Gaza just two hours after it began after accusing Hamas of snatching the soldier

Humanitarian ceasefire had been brokered by United States and United Nations in bid to end the deadly conflict

'Abduction took place when militants emerged from tunnel and detonated bomb vest, killing two other soldiers'

Also demanded immediate release of Lieutenant Hadar Goldin, 23, who was 'kidnapped' by the militant group


UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today blamed Hamas for violating a 72-hour ceasefire in Gaza as U.S. President Barack Obama demanded the immediate release of a 'kidnapped' Israeli soldier.

The humanitarian ceasefire, brokered by the United States and the United Nations in a bid to end the deadly 25-day conflict, was supposed to take effect at 8am (6am GMT) today.

But less than two hours after it began, it collapsed into a new wave of bloodshed when an Israeli soldier was reportedly captured by the militant group Hamas.

Now, Ban has condemned Hamas for allegedly violating the ceasefire in a 'grave' move that 'is likely to have very serious consequences for the people of Gaza, Israel and beyond'.

Scroll down for videos

'Captured': Israel has accused militant group Hamas of kidnapping soldier Lieutenant Hadar Goldin (left) less than two hours after the 72-hour ceasefire started at 8am (6am GMT) today. Right, smoke billows following an Israeli military strike east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip this morning after the humanitarian ceasefire collapsed

Homeless: Members of the Al Kafarna family are pictured inspecting the rubble of their destroyed house in the town of Beit Hanun in the northern Gaza Strip today

Bombardment: An Israeli mobile artillery unit is pictured firing toward the Gaza Strip after the military formally announced the end of the humanitarian ceasefire Calls for action: UN Secretary-General: Ban Ki-moon (left) today blamed Hamas for violating the 72-hour ceasefire in Gaza as U.S. President Barack Obama (right) demanded the immediate and 'unconditional' release of Lt Goldin

The UN chief also urged both sides 'to show maximum restraint and return to the agreed 72-hour humanitarian cease-fire that tragically lasted such a brief period of time', according to UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

'Such moves call into question the credibility of Hamas' assurances to the United Nations,' said Mr Dujarric. 'The secretary-general condemns in the strongest terms the reported violation by Hamas of the mutually agreed humanitarian ceasefire which commenced this morning.

'He is shocked and profoundly disappointed by these developments.'

Earlier today, reports emerged that Lieutenant Hadar Goldin, 23, believed to be the third cousin of Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon, had been kidnapped by Hamas in an attack that left two others dead less than two hours after the ceasefire began.

The soldier, who had reportedly got engaged just weeks before being sent to Gaza with the military, was previously rumoured to be a British Israeli, but the Foreign Office has since said it has no information to suggest that he is a British citizen.

However, he is believed to have lived for several years in Cambridge with his twin brother on two occasions, at the age of six and 15.

Agony: Seven-year-old Ahmad Al Kafarna cries over the rubble of his destroyed house in Beit Hanun in the northern Gaza Strip as a humanitarian ceasefire broke down Nowhere to go: A Palestinian woman carries her belongings from her destroyed house in the Shejaia neighborhood after it was hit by Israeli shelling

Shelling: Israeli artillery shell toward targets in the Gaza Strip form at an unspecified location next to the Israeli-Gaza border after the ceasefire collapsed this morning

Attack: The humanitarian ceasefire, brokered by the United States and the United Nations in a bid to end the deadly 25-day conflict, was supposed to take effect at 8am

On the move: But less than two hours after it began, it collapsed into a new wave of bloodshed when Lt Goldin was reportedly captured by the militant group Hamas

His father spent time on sabbatical as an academic at Cambridge University and the family played an active role in the Jewish community, a friend told the Jerusalem Post.

Rabbi Reuven Leigh, chaplain at Cambridge university, wrote on Twitter: ‘Shaken to hear of Hadar Goldin’s kidnapping, he spent a few years living in Cambridge with his family, please pray for his safe return.’

Israeli army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner said that the apparent abduction took place when Palestinian gunmen emerged from their network of tunnels, with at least one fighter detonating an explosives vest.

In the ensuing mayhem, Lt Goldin was apparently captured and taken back into Gaza through a tunnel, while another two soldiers were killed.

'We suspect that he has been kidnapped,' Col Lerner said.

Reports of the kidnapping provoked a furious backlash from Israel, with former deputy defence minister, Danny Danon saying: 'If we don't get the soldier back within a few hours we should start levelling Gaza.'

This evening, the Obama administration described the apparent abduction of Lt Goldin as a 'barbaric' action and called for his 'unconditional release'.

US President Barack Obama said at a news conference : 'I want to make sure [Hamas] are listening, if they are serious about resolving this situation that soldier needs to be released unconditionally.

Appalling loss of life: Palestinian Nidal Abu Rjeilah, 30, leans over the blanket-covered corpse of his disabled sister Ghadeer, 17, in the southern Gaza village of Khuzaa Obliterated: Destroyed houses in Al-Shejaeiya neighbourhood in the east of Gaza City after the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel collapsed Running for cover: Palestinians run for cover during clashes with Israeli soldiers following a protest against the war in the Gaza Strip, outside Ofer, an Israeli military prison near the West Bank city of Ramallah, today Terrified: A man is pictured running in terror during the clashes. Today marks the 25th day of the conflict, which has so far claimed the lives of at least 1,500 Palestinians

Israel's military said five of its soldiers were killed along the Gaza border Thursday evening by a mortar round.

At least 1,496 Palestinians, mainly civilians, have been killed since hostilities began July 8, according to Palestinian officials. Israel says 61 of its soldiers and three civilians in Israel have been killed.

Hours ahead of the cease-fire, Gaza police reported heavy Israeli tank shelling in northern and eastern Gaza, and the loud exchange of fire with militants could be heard across Gaza City.

Tank shells slammed into the city itself, setting homes and shops ablaze.

Hamas fighters hit an Israeli tank with an anti-tank missile, Gaza police said. The militants then attacked Israeli troops who came to evacuate the tank crew. Clashes continued into the early morning hours, police said.

The Israeli military said it was looking into the matter.

Israeli police meanwhile warned residents to stay away from Israeli communities near the Gaza border during the cease-fire, saying the area remains 'a war zone.'

'We ask the public to heed the orders of the police and army and not to go to the Gaza Strip border area, it is a threat to your life!!!' the police said in a statement.

Police said Palestinians clashed with Israeli security forces in a number of neighborhoods in east Jerusalem, and that Israelis attacked an empty bus.