RESCUERS in Gaza claim that Israeli strikes across the Palestinian territory killed at least 26 people yesterday, the day after peace talks were set to resume.
The civil defence agency said a morning air strike on Gaza City killed 11 people, seven of which children.
The agency also claims an Israeli strike killed five security officers accompanying aid convoys driving through the southern city of Khan Yunis.
Rescuers said strikes elsewhere in Gaza killed 10 more people, including a child and two other members of the same family, when their house was bombed. This brings the total number of deaths in the last 24 hours to nearly 100.
Late on Friday January 3, Hamas said indirect negotiations with Israel were to resume in Qatar for a truce and hostage release deal.
There has since been no update.
Hamas, whose October 7 2023 attack on Israel killed over 1200 people and abducted 96 hostages sparked the war, said talks would "focus on ensuring the agreement leads to a complete cessation of hostilities [and] the withdrawal of occupation forces".
Since the start of the war over 46000 Palestinians have been killed according to health authorities. Critical infrastructure such as hospitals, roads, and water systems have been also been destroyed.
A major point of contention to any deal has been Israel's reluctance to agree to a lasting ceasefire. However, representatives for Qatar have recently expressed optimism over "momentum" allegedly returning to talks following the US election of Donald Trump.
On Thursday, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he had authorised Israeli negotiators to continue talks in Doha. However, Hamas and Israel then accused each other of setting new conditions and obstacles, stalling talks once more.
