A series of rockets and missiles were launched from Gaza to Israel two hours before the expiration of the previous 72-hour truce and start of another five-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Israeli officials announced early Thursday.

The two parties agreed to enforce an additional five-day ceasefire to continue negotiating a substantive deal, reports said.

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However hours before the new truce took effect, two rockets were fired in the vicinity of Ashkelon, a town near the coastal strip. Several more rockets landed in the region of Eshkol, Netivot and Sdot Negev, Israelis said.

According to reports, Hamas militants resumed firing rockets and Israel retaliated. So far, there were no reports of casualties from the latest rocket fires in the southern and northern portions of the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf Al Qedra.

Hamas spokesman Abu Zuhri also denied that the militants fired rockets from the Gaza Strip at Israel, saying other militants outside their control might have been responsible for the strikes.

Certain issues stalled the Cairo talks, which aimed to achieve a permanent and long-term ceasefire in the affected region.

Part of the talks include Palestinian demands to lift the Gaza blockade and the release of the 50 militant prisoners captured by Israel during the war. For Israel's side, it calls to disarm Hamas and get limited access to military weapons.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Barack Obama spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu on Wednesday night and discussed the current negotiations happening in Cairo. The U.S. urged Israel's prime minister to seal an agreement that would end the violence in the Gaza Strip.

The leader of the Palestinian delegation, Azzam al-Ahmed said there is a little progress in the talks. He also said he hoped that they would come up with a final agreement for a permanent ceasefire and end the month-long violence in Gaza.

Tagsrocket fires, Gaza, Truce, Israel, war