Israeli Soldier, Palestinian Killed Near Gaza As US Envoy Arrives In Region

An Israeli soldier and Palestinian have been killed in the first serious violence since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect 10 days ago, the BBC reports.

An Israeli soldier has been killed and three others injured in a bomb attack on their patrol near the border with Gaza, the Israeli army has said.

Israeli troops entered Gaza backed by helicopters in response and one Palestinian was killed, medics said.

The violence comes as US Envoy George Mitchell arrives in the Middle East to talk to regional players about a more permanent truce between Israel and Hamas.

Haaretz reports that Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said that Israel needed to respond immediately to the killing of an IDF soldier.

"If there is an incident on the border and someone shoots, there's a bomb there or the smuggling of arms, Israel needs to respond immediately," said Livni.

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Livni added: "Israel doesn't need to demonstrate restraint against terror in the Gaza Strip. This was true before the operation, and it is true after it."

Al Jazeera reports that Israel closed the border crossings with Gaza after the attack.

Israel subsequently closed its crossings into Gaza to humanitarian aid traffic after briefly opening them in the morning.

Raed Fattouh, a Gaza border official, said Israeli officials informed him the closure was due to the attack.

No Palestinian group has claimed responsibility for the bomb attack, but a Hamas leader has blamed Israel for it, Haaretz reports.

Although there was no claim of responsibility for Tuesday's attack, Mushir al-Masri, a Hamas leader, said Israel was to blame for continuing to fire into Gaza. Al-Masri said his group had not agreed to a full cease-fire but only to a lull in fighting.

"The Zionists are responsible for any aggression," he said.