Rocket fire hits Israel as humanitarian lull ends

A rocket fired from Gaza has hit the Israeli city of Ashkelon, the army said, just as a five-hour ceasefire in 10 days of Israel-Hamas fighting ended.

The rocket hit at exactly 3pm (10pm AEST), the army said in a statement, after the two sides had agreed to cease hostilities on humanitarian grounds for five hours at the request of the UN.

READ MORE: For weary Gaza, the ceasefire will achieve nothing