DHAKA: After weeks of rising tensions following the killing of three Israeli teenagers and the apparent revenge killing of a Palestinian teenager, Israel began a major offensive against Hamas in Gaza on July 8.

After 15 days of fighting, at least 620 Palestinians and 29 Israelis have died.

On Tuesday, Israeli officials confirmed that one of their soldiers, Sgt. Oron Shaul, 21, has been missing in Gaza since Sunday and said they were trying to determine whether he had been captured or had died in combat, The New York Times reports on early Wednesday.

The report included that Israel’s bombardment of Gaza persisted from the air and sea, and artillery shelling could be heard into the night.

Rocket fire from Gaza into Israel continued and major American airlines halted flights to Israel after a rocket fell near Ben-Gurion International Airport outside Tel Aviv, above, the funeral of Sgt. First Class Tal Yifrah, an Israeli soldier.

BDST: 1005 HRS, JULY 23, 2014