Israel-Hamas Conflict: Exchange of fire erupts two weeks before Israeli election

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Israel and Gaza have reportedly accepted a ceasefire agreement brokered by Egypt to end the latest 24-hour exchange of rockets and airstrikes. The flare-up comes two weeks before Israel's general election. Stephanie Freid has this update.

Another escalation in the longstanding Gaza versus Israel conflict.

Rounds of rockets fired from Gaza are met by Israeli airstrikes, infantry and armored divisions.

This time a Hamas rocket hit a house in central Israel injuring seven people.

That prompted Israel's prime minister to exit a Washington visit ahead of schedule.

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER "In light of the recent security incidents, I decided to cut my trip to the U.S. short. I will meet President Trump in the coming hours and then I will return to Israel to manage the situation from there."

Israel announced a military campaign, called up a limited number of reserve soldiers and hit Gaza by air.

Dozens of rockets fired out of Gaza into southern Israel and despite a Monday night ceasefire announcement, the back and forth continued into the wee hours of Tuesday.

Tuesday morning a tense quiet that isn't predicted to last for very long resumed.

The escalation could help or harm prime minister Netanyahu in an upcoming general election.

BRADLEY BURSTON POLITICAL COLUMNIST, HAARETZ NEWSPAPER "Is he not going to be undermined by these rockets, or shored up by these rockets and nobody knows yet. No one knows yet how these rockets are going to play out - it could also spill into a war. And there again, people may rally around him or blame him for it."

Beyond April elections, Gazans and Israelis are tired of the violent exchange - people on both sides are calling for a long-term solution.

Stephanie Freid, CGTN, Tel Aviv.