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Relative lull in Gaza as UN calls for cease-fire

Minarets from a mosque are seen in this view of Gaza city, early Monday, July 28, 2014. Monday marked the beginning of the three-day Eid al-Fitr holiday, which caps the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. Muslims usually start the day by visiting cemeteries, to pay their respects to the dead, and then exchange family visits. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) Minarets from a mosque are seen in this view of Gaza city, early Monday, July 28, 2014. Monday marked the beginning of the three-day Eid al-Fitr holiday, which caps the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. Muslims usually start the day by visiting cemeteries, to pay their respects to the dead, and then exchange family visits. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

By Associated Press July 28, 2014 1 min read

JERUSALEM (AP) – Israel and Hamas have lowered the pace of the fighting in the three-week-old Gaza war as international efforts intensify to end the conflict that has already killed 1,030 Palestinians and 43 Israeli soldiers.

The Israeli military said Monday it hasn’t carried out any attacks in Gaza since 9:30 p.m. the previous night. It says troops are pressing on with efforts to destroy the cross-border tunnels constructed by Hamas for attacks inside Israel.

The military says Hamas fired a single rocket into Israel in the morning hours, but there was no damage or casualties.

The lull comes as the U.N. Security Council called for “an immediate and unconditional humanitarian cease-fire” in Gaza and President Barack Obama called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday to express concern over mounting Palestinian casualties.