At least three dozen Palestinians lost their lives in multiple Israeli strikes in the southern Gaza Strip, officials confirmed on Saturday. Among the casualties were 11 members of the same family, including two children, who were killed when an Israeli airstrike hit their home in the city of Khan Younis. The strikes resulted in a total of 33 deaths in and around Khan Younis, with another 17 individuals killed on a road south of the city, including passengers on a tuk-tuk and passers-by. Additionally, a strike east of Khan Younis claimed the lives of at least five people.
The Israeli military stated that it was investigating the reports but did not provide an immediate comment. First responders recovered 10 bodies from a residential block west of Khan Younis, six from the Hamad City area, and two from Rafah. The conflict has led to over 40,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, with 69 fatalities and 212 injuries reported in the past 24 hours.
The ongoing conflict has caused widespread destruction and forced the majority of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents to flee their homes. Efforts are underway to facilitate high-level cease-fire talks on Sunday, mediated by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar. A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo to engage with Egyptian and Qatari officials, while an Israeli delegation, including top officials, is also present.
The U.S. is actively involved in negotiations, with CIA Director William Burns and senior adviser Brett McGurk leading discussions. The talks aim to bridge gaps between Israel and Hamas, with a focus on Israel’s strategic corridors in Gaza. President Joe Biden has emphasized the urgency of reaching a cease-fire and resolving the hostage situation, engaging with regional leaders to address the escalating tensions.
Hamas is advocating for a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, while Israel insists on maintaining control of key corridors. The upcoming talks will seek to address these critical issues and work towards a sustainable resolution to the conflict.
For more updates on the situation, visit AP’s war coverage.
