Palestinian officials reported dozens of deaths on Saturday, as the Israeli military continued its bombardment of Gaza. Most of the strikes targeted the area in and around the southern Gaza city of Rafah, which lies on the border with Egypt and within just a few kilometers of Israeli territory.

At least 35 people were killed near Rafah, according to Palestinian health official Ashraf al-Kidra, who told the Associated Press news agency that the bombardment had also prompted the evacuation of the city's main hospital.

The Islamic University in Gaza City was also struck on Saturday. According to the Israeli army, there was a "weapons development center" inside.

On Friday, a 72-hour ceasefire collapsed just hours after going to effect. Israel blamed Hamas for the failed truce, accusing it of abducting 23-year-old Second Lieutenant Hadar Goldin within 90 minutes of the ceasefire's start time.

The Israeli military continued its search for the missing soldier on Saturday near Rafah, where heavy fighting has been going on. However, Hamas has denied kidnapping the man.

"The Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades (Hamas' armed militant faction) has no information on this soldier. We have lost contact with one of our combatant groups, which was fighting in the sector where the soldier went missing and it is possible that our fighters and this soldier were killed," it said, according to the news agency AFP.

Ceasefire is 'real chance' for peace

Speaking at a press conference in Cairo on Saturday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi urged both sides to seek a truce as soon as possible.

"Lost time…complicates the situation more and more," the Egyptian leader said.

"The Egyptian proposal is the real chance to find a solution to the crisis in Gaza and to end the bloodshed."

Al-Sisi was scheduled to meet with a Palestinian delegation later in the day. It was not immediately clear if Israeli officials would join them.

The air and ground offensive against Hamas in Gaza has left over 1,400 Palestinians dead and has claimed the lives of dozens of Israeli soldiers.

kms/tj (AP, AFP, Reuters, dpa)