Negotiations for a ceasefire between Israeli forces and the Palestinian militant group Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which have been fighting for a fourth day, have stalled.

According to the Israeli military, dozens of rockets were fired from the Palestinian Gaza Strip, targeting southern Israel and Jerusalem.

Palestinian militants fired volleys at Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities, saying it was "in response to assassinations and ongoing attacks on Palestinians."

Most of the rockets fired by Palestinian militants were intercepted by the low-altitude air defense Iron Dome, and only one shot landed on a house in the southern Israeli city of Sderot.

Shortly after the rocket launch, the Israeli military also resumed airstrikes on Gaza, using fighter jets.

During the airstrike, the commander and aide of the militant group's Military Council were killed in an apartment building in Gaza.

Expectations grew that the ceasefire negotiations, which began with Egyptian mediation, would take a nosedive, but eventually the two sides clashed again, halting ceasefire talks, local media including the daily Haaretz reported, citing senior Israeli officials.

"As a result of its own consultations, Israel has decided to stop participating in ceasefire discussions," the official said, adding that "there will be a harsh response to the rocket attack."

Since September, the Israeli military has used Operation "Shield and Arrow" to strike 9 Palestinian militant strongholds, including rocket and mortar launchers, and eliminate six commanders, including those responsible for launching the rockets.

Palestinian militants also resisted, firing more than 254 rocket shells at Israel over a four-day period starting on the 6th.

(Photo=AP, Yonhap News)