An Egyptian-mediated 24-hour ceasefire between Hamas and Israel went into effect on Saturday, following an intense round of fighting in the Gaza Strip. However, Israel did not confirm the truce and sirens were still heard in southern Israel early on Sunday, indicating incoming rocket fire before calm held for several hours.

"Since the start of the Israeli strikes on Gaza, various mediation efforts to stop the aggression have succeeded in bringing calm and stopping this aggressive escalation," Hamas spokesman, Fawzi Barhoum, told CNN.

Israel on Saturday launched its largest wave of airstrikes against Hamas militant targets in Gaza since the 2014 war, where two Palestinian teenagers were killed and at least three Israeli civilians got injured.

"We have no intention of tolerating rockets, kites, drones or anything. Hamas has sustained a heavy blow," said Israeli Defence Minister, Avigdor Lieberman. "I hope that Hamas will draw conclusions and if not, they will have to pay a heavy price."

Since March 30, more than 130 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire during protests at the Gaza border, while hundreds of thousands of protesters have gathered near the border fences demanding the right to what they believe is ancestral lands.