0
GAZA CITY: Egyptian officials say efforts to persuade Palestinian militants in Gaza to hold their rocket fire on Israel have failed, after a day of deadly, escalated violence.
The officials say they tried to arrange a cease-fire set at 3. a.m. Sunday, but did not win agreement from factions responsible for the rocket attacks. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the mediation efforts.
The Israeli military meanwhile said early Sunday that its aircraft struck six militant targets in Gaza overnight, including three rocket-launching sites.
Nine militants and an Israeli civilian were killed on Saturday. Militants from Gaza's ruling Hamas movement are not believed to have been involved in the attacks, which were claimed by smaller factions.
