The bombardment began late on Friday and carried on into Saturday morning. Among the dead were 12 individuals sheltering at Palestine Stadium in Gaza City, and eight others who were killed in their apartments, according to staff at Shifa Hospital, where the bodies were taken
A Palestinian girl stands on rubble as she looks at the destruction in the Al-Bureij camp in the central Gaza Strip after a house was targeted by an Israeli strike. Pic/AFP
At least 34 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, according to medical staff, as hopes for a potential ceasefire continue to grow, reported the AP on Saturday.
According to the news agency, the bombardment began late on Friday and carried on into Saturday morning. Among the dead were 12 individuals sheltering at Palestine Stadium in Gaza City, and eight others who were killed in their apartments, according to staff at Shifa Hospital, where the bodies were taken.
In southern Gaza, a separate strike on a tent in Muwasi killed six people, the hospital added, as per an AP report.
The escalation comes amid growing international efforts to end the fighting. United States President Donald Trump said on Friday that a ceasefire agreement could be reached “within the next week”.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, he said, “We’re working on Gaza and trying to get it taken care of.”
A US official familiar with the negotiations said Israel’s Minister for Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer, is expected to visit Washington next week to hold discussions on the Gaza ceasefire, Iran, and other matters. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to speak publicly.
Ceasefire negotiations have stalled repeatedly since Israel resumed military operations in March, following the breakdown of the previous truce. The renewed campaign has further deepened the already catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 56,000 Palestinians have been killed in the 21-month conflict, which began when Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants but states that over half of the dead are women and children.
Around 50 hostages are still believed to be held in Gaza, with fewer than half thought to be alive. They are among approximately 250 people taken during the initial Hamas assault, according to AP.
Some families of hostages are hopeful that Trump’s role in brokering a recent ceasefire between Israel and Iran may lead to renewed pressure for a deal in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, buoyed by public support following the Iran conflict, may now feel less constrained in pursuing a ceasefire – though he continues to face resistance from his far-right coalition partners, reported the AP.
Hamas has repeatedly offered to release all remaining hostages in exchange for an end to the war. However, Netanyahu has stated that the war will only conclude once Hamas is disarmed and exiled – a condition the group rejects.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire. Following a 2½-month-long blockade, Israel has permitted only limited food aid to enter the territory since mid-May.
UN efforts to distribute supplies have been disrupted by armed gangs looting convoys and desperate civilians swarming aid trucks.
Palestinians travelling to newly established aid distribution points – managed by the American- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation – have reportedly come under fire. Gaza’s health officials and local witnesses say Israeli troops have shot and wounded civilians approaching the sites. The Israeli military has stated that it is investigating the incidents.
(with AP inputs)
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