Many local residents in the Egyptian border city of Rafah have fled their homes to escape Israel's aerial bombardment of the adjacent Gaza Strip, Aswat Masriya website reported.

Locals say renewed Israeli shelling has taken its toll on the Egyptian town, prompting many who live along the border with Gaza to leave their homes and seek sanctuary in other cities in Sinai.

Israel’s air and ground assault of the Palestinian territory has killed more than 1,450 Palestinians. Sixty-three Israeli soldiers and three civilians have also died in the fighting.

On Friday a planned three-day truce broke down within hours of its implementation, as clashes renewed.

Egyptians in the border city fear they are also at risk, reporting that building windows have been shattered and walls cracked by the shrapnel of mortar and artillery shells fired by Israel.

"We had to leave or homes and move with our relatives to (North Sinai's) El-Arish or any other areas away from the border," local resident Samir Faris told Aswat Masriya website.

Others say the weaponry Israel is using poses a serious threat.

"My brothers and I left our homes for fear that a stray rocket smashes into it… especially as Israel is firing long-range rockets that could endanger our lives and safety," Khamis Hamdan said.

Windows of homes, mosques and schools located close to the frontier with Gaza have been smashed, Khaled El-Kombez, said. "We fear for our children's lives amid the shelling that we have not seen since 2008," he said in reference to the last 23-day-long 2008-9 Gaza war which killed more than 1,440 people.