Several mosques and houses were among the buildings hit by Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip after the Israel-Hamas cease-fire ended at 8 a.m. local time on Friday (August 8), according to Hamas officials.

Israel renewed strikes soon after the 72-hour truce ended, saying that its actions were a response to cross-border rocket fire by militants in Gaza.

Three bodies were found under the ruins of the Al-Qassam mosque in central Gaza, including that of senior Hamas official Moaaz Zaid, according to a Palestinian health official.

The Hassan Al-Banna mosque in Gaza City was partially destroyed by an airstrike.

The United Nations (UN) has condemned the resumption in violence in Gaza.

The UN also reported that more than 1,900 Palestinians, mainly civilians, had been killed during more than four weeks of conflict.

Gaza resident Mohammad Abu Al Laban told reporters: “If our demands aren’t met we’ll continue to support the resistance because there is nothing left to cry over in Palestine. We’ve lost our women, children, our homes destroyed.”

Sixty-seven people have died on the Israeli side.

Egyptian mediators, working to bring about a long-term truce, held talks with a Palestinian delegation on Friday (August 8) evening and are due to meet Israeli representatives later on Saturday (August 9).