Gaza Cease-Fire Crumbles Just Hours After Going Into Effect (UPDATE: IDF Expresses Concern Soldier May Have Been Captured)

UPDATE: 8:22 a.m. ET: The IDF has released the name of the suspected victim and also said that two other soldiers were killed in the process:

2nd. Lt. Hadar Goldin, 23 from Kfar Saba, is the soldier suspected to be kidnapped by Hamas earlier today.

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) August 1, 2014

We suspect that a group of Hamas terrorists, including a suicide attacker, kidnapped 2nd. Lt. Goldin at 9:30AM & dragged him into a tunnel.

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) August 1, 2014

Hamas terrorists killed two IDF soldiers during the suspected kidnapping of 2nd Lt. Goldin this morning.

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) August 1, 2014

UPDATE: 7:00 a.m. ET: The Israeli military expressed concern that an IDF soldier may have been captured by Hamas as violence erupted early Friday morning in Gaza:

This morning, Hamas fired at our forces in S. Gaza in violation of a ceasefire. We suspect that an IDF soldier was kidnapped moments later.

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) August 1, 2014

.@IDFSpokesperson says suspected capture of soldier occurred at 930a, 90 minutes after cease fire began

— Nick Schifrin (@nickschifrin)

August 1, 2014

We are conducting extensive searches in S. Gaza in order to find a missing IDF soldier. We suspect the soldier was kidnapped by Hamas today

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) August 1, 2014

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UPDATE: 6:35 a.m. ET: An Israeli spokesperson reportedly said on CNN that Israel did not violate the cease-fire, but acted in self-defense after a deadly assault took place on their forces:

Israeli spox Mark Regev on CNN just now: We had accepted the cease-fire. "This morning, our forces in Gaza on the ground were attacked"

— Andrew Katz (@katz) August 1, 2014

Israeli spox Mark Regev on CNN: "There was an incident, a brutal incident, a deadly incident … our forces returned fire, which is allowed"

— Andrew Katz (@katz) August 1, 2014

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UPDATE: 5:17 a.m. ET: Israel has informed the U.N. that the cease-fire is over, according to at least two reports:

BREAKING: Israeli official: We informed UN envoy Robert Serry that the humanitarian ceasefire is over

— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) August 1, 2014

#BreakingNews Israel informs U.N. of ending humanitarian truce, resumes military operation on Gaza https://t.co/oTcsndoLxN

— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) August 1, 2014

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UPDATE — 4:55 a.m. ET: Fighting erupted in south Gaza Friday morning despite a truce that went into effect at 8 a.m. local time.

According to Israeli news website Haaretz, two mortar shells were fired from within the Gaza Stip just two hours after the cease-fire went into effect. They landed in a border town, the outlet reported.

Shortly after, Gaza officials said Israeli tank fire killed four Palestinians.

BREAKING: Gaza officials: Israeli tank fire kills 4 Palestinians after cease-fire

— The Associated Press (@AP) August 1, 2014

According to an Israeli government spokesperson, an incident on the border resulted in Israeli casualties and the IDF returned fire in response.

#Israel Govt spokesman: serious incident on border in Kerem Shalom resulting in number of Israeli casualties and artillery fired in response

— Sky News Newsdesk (@SkyNewsBreak) August 1, 2014

Israel's South Africa embassy further said on Twitter that "Hamas have now flagrantly violated ceasefire initiated by UN & US."

Israel is not initiating any fire. We are only responding to Hamas attacks Hamas have now flagrantly violated ceasefire initiated by UN & US

— Embassy of Israel SA (@IsraelinSA) August 1, 2014

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GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — A three-day cease-fire in the Gaza Strip has gone into effect following heavy Israel-Hamas fighting.

Smoke rises after an Israeli strike hit Gaza City, northern Gaza Strip, Thursday, July 31, 2014. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

The cease-fire, announced hours earlier by the U.S. and the U.N., took effect at 8:00 a.m. (0500 GMT) Friday. Secretary of State John Kerry cautioned there were "no guarantees" that the lull would bring an end to the Gaza war, now in its fourth week.

At 8:00 AM, the IDF will cease fire for 72 hours in accordance with the government's directive. We will continue to dismantle the tunnels.

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) August 1, 2014

Israel and Hamas both said they would respect the cease-fire but would respond to attacks.

At least four short humanitarian cease-fires have been announced since the conflict began, but each has been broken within a few hours by renewed fighting.

Hours before the cease-fire was to take effect, 17 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes. Israel's military said five soldiers were killed along the Gaza border the previous evening.

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