Gaza death toll rises in Israeli strikes; Egypt to host Hamas leaders for ceasefire talks

Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed at least 40 Palestinians overnight and on Friday, as efforts to restart ceasefire talks gained momentum with Hamas officials traveling to Cairo for negotiations.

Medics reported recovering 19 bodies in Nuseirat, one of Gaza’s longstanding refugee camps. Later, an Israeli strike on a house in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza, killed at least 10 more people, with additional casualties reported across northern and southern parts of the territory.

The Israeli military did not issue a new statement on Friday but previously said it was continuing to “strike terror targets” in Gaza. On Thursday, Israeli tanks entered northern and western areas of Nuseirat, withdrawing from the northern areas on Friday but remaining active in the west.

The Palestinian Civil Emergency Service stated that teams were unable to respond to distress calls from residents trapped in their homes due to the ongoing operations.