Israeli Strikes Claim at Least 70 Lives in Gaza, Ceasefire Talks Intensify
CAIRO/GAZA – Israeli military airstrikes on the Gaza Strip have left at least 70 people dead over the past 24 hours, according to Palestinian medics on Saturday. This comes as international mediators intensify efforts to broker a ceasefire to end the 15-month-long conflict.
Among the casualties, at least 17 were killed in airstrikes targeting two houses in Gaza City. The first attack occurred in the early hours, destroying the home of the Al-Ghoula family. Neighbors and residents described hearing a massive explosion around 2 a.m.
Ahmed Ayyan, a neighbor, recounted, “We were woken by the sound of a huge explosion. About 14 or 15 people were staying there, mostly women and children. None were involved in missile launching or fighting.”
Rescue teams combed through the debris for survivors, and medics reported that several children were among the victims. Flames and smoke continued to rise from the wreckage hours after the strike.
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military regarding the attack. A subsequent airstrike on another home in Gaza City later on Saturday killed five more people, with at least 10 others feared trapped under the rubble, according to the Palestinian Civil Emergency Service.
The Israeli military also reported ongoing operations in Beit Hanoun, a town in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, where a Hamas military complex was destroyed. Six other Palestinians died in strikes in Jabalia and near Deir Al-Balah, bringing the total death toll to 70 since Friday.
Efforts to Reach a Ceasefire
As the death toll rises, efforts to secure a ceasefire are gaining momentum. Israeli and Palestinian negotiators, alongside Qatari and Egyptian mediators, have resumed talks in Doha. The Biden administration is also assisting in facilitating the discussions, urging Hamas to agree to a ceasefire deal ahead of US President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
