Tel Aviv - A three-hour humanitarian lull on Friday was disturbed by a continuation of fighting in the Gaza Strip, an Israeli defence official said.

"We decided to implement the lull but the Palestinians continued to shoot. So, of course, we returned fire," said Peter Lerner from the ministry of defence.

Television footage showed heavy Israeli military activity in the Gaza Strip during the time of the lull, which was scheduled to start at 1 pm (1100 GMT).

Lerner said humanitarian supplies were being allowed into the enclave through the Kerem Shalom crossing, but the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, and the International Red Cross, were both limiting staff movement due to attacks on their personnel and did not go to the crossing to collect any goods. (dpa)