Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak, a close ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stunned observers on Monday by announcing his retirement from politics ahead of snap elections in January,

The decision appeared to end a decades-long career that has seen him serve in top governmental posts and lead the country as prime minister.

Gunfire from Syria hit the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights overnight close to an Israeli military vehicle monitoring the ceasefire line but causing no injuries, the military said on Monday.

"There was gunfire near an Israeli military vehicle which was driving along the security fence," a military spokeswoman said, adding the incident had occurred late on Sunday.

Israeli and U.S. defense officials have successfully tested the David's Sling missile defense system, completing the first phase of the weapon's development, the defense ministry said on Sunday.

"The Israel Missile Defense Organization and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency completed the first phase of the development of the David's Sling Weapon System, by conducting a successful interception," a statement said.

A Palestinian was wounded in the southern Gaza Strip on Sunday after being shot by Israeli security forces, medics said, a day after Hamas deployed police to prevent clashes.

According to the Gaza medical sources, the incident occurred east of Khan Younis.

Gaza's Hamas government on Sunday announced the creation of a committee to examine the "unlawful executions" of Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel during the recent conflict.

"The government has decided to set up a committee to study what happened with the unlawful executions which took place during the aggression," Hamas government spokesman Taher al-Nounou told reporters in Gaza City.

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu admitted on Sunday that Turkey had resumed contacts with Israel to try to bring an end to the hostilities in Gaza, despite its decision to freeze diplomatic relations with the Jewish state.

"In the Gaza process, it's true, Israel held discussions with Turkey through foreign ministry and secret service channels," Davutoglu said in a televised interview, quoted by the Anatolia news agency.

Tens of thousands of Moroccans marched in support of the Palestinians in the country's two main cities on Sunday, after Israel's devastating eight-day bombardment of the Gaza Strip.

Protesters in Rabat, who numbered more than 45,000 according to police, condemned Israel for "crimes against humanity" during the assault that killed more than 160 Gazans, and criticized Washington for supporting the Jewish state.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague urged the United States on Sunday to take a "decisive lead" on reviving the Middle East peace process following the deadly conflict in Gaza.

Following President Barack Obama's re-election this month, "we do look to the United States to give a decisive lead in the coming months," Hague told BBC television, adding: "They have crucial leverage with Israel that no other country has."

Members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling rightwing Likud party were slugging it out in a party primary on Sunday to choose the frontrunners for a January 22 parliamentary race.

The primary among Likud's 123,000 registered members was to select a list of parliamentary candidates which will be put to voters in the January general election.

A Palestinian resident of east Jerusalem has been arrested on suspicion of being an agent of Hizbullah, Israel's domestic security agency Shin Bet said on Sunday.

Issam Ali Hashem Mashahra of Jabel Mukaber was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of acting as an agent for Hizbullah, after being recruited during a visit to Lebanon in June 2012, a statement said.