The United Nations (UN) condemned the latest fighting in the Gaza Strip that came just hours before a 24-hour truce was about to expire.

In a statement, UN spokesman Stefane Dujarric conveyed Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's "strongest" condemnation of the ceasefire breakdown. The latest fighting raised the possibility of setting off a new round violence that already took over 2,000 lives, according to Stuff.co.nz.

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Dujarric said the UN secretary-general urged both Israel and Gaza to be responsible in their actions and not do anything to not worsen the crisis.

Egypt was still urging both sides to come to terms on a truce, unnamed Egyptian security officials said. The country's latest attempt to negotiate an end to the month-long fighting between Israel and Hamas collapsed in the eruption of violence.

Hamas militants fired dozens of rockets into Israel on Tuesday afternoon. The latter pulled out its delegation from the ceasefire talks in Cairo and retaliated with airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, leaving three Palestinians dead.

According to Palestinian medical personnel Ashraf al-Kidra, a 2-year-old girl and two women died in the latest breakout of violence. The target of the Israeli strike was not yet confirmed.

A separate Israeli attack struck a building that served as the offices of the Al Aqsa TV station of Hamas, al-Kidra added. The airstrike left twenty-one people injured.

Israel reported no injuries although an intercepted rocket landed on a busy street near Tel Aviv. The Home Front Command, the nation's civil defense authority, ordered the reopening of public bomb shelters near Gaza.

Meanwhile, Palestinian negotiators in Cairo declared the end of the current ceasefire discussion and announced they would depart on Wednesday. Their leader, Azzam al-Ahmad, blamed Israel for the truce breakdown but said they were still willing to resume the talks.

Israel, on the other hand, blamed Hamas for the latest fighting. Government spokesperson Mark Regev, who said Hamas violated the ceasefire when it fired the rockets into Israel, did not confirm if they would still resume the talks.

Hamas wants to end a seven-year blockade by Israel and Egypt that has crippled Gaza's economy but Israel first wants to guarantee that the militants will be disarmed. The week-long indirect talks between the two parties seem to have made little progress in addressing both demands.

Egypt brokered a 24-hour extension to a previous temporary ceasefire to gain more time in reaching a permanent deal between Israel and Hamas.

TagsGaza Strip, Hamas, Israel, Ban Ki Moon, Stephane Dujarric, Stuff.co.nz, Ashraf al-Kidra, Al Aqsa TV, Azzam al-Ahmad, Cairo, Egypt