Israel’s military says it has carried out air strikes in the Gaza Strip in response to fresh rocket fire, hours before a ceasefire was set to expire.

A child is reported to have died, and eyewitnesses say thousands of Gazans have been heading for UN shelters.

Talks in Cairo to end the violence have broken up, and the Israeli delegation is now on its way back home.

Officials say 2,016 Palestinians and 66 Israelis have died since Operation Protective Edge began on 8 July.

The US has voiced concern about the renewed hostilities, and blamed the Islamist group Hamas.

“Israel has the right to defend itself against such attacks,” state department spokeswoman Marie Harf told reporters.