Gaza City: At least 72 Palestinians were killed overnight and into Saturday in a series of Israeli strikes across Gaza, according to local health officials, as hopes cautiously rise for a potential ceasefire deal after nearly 21 months of war.

Among the dead were three children and their parents, killed while sleeping when a tent in Muwasi, near Khan Younis in southern Gaza, was hit. Grieving family members gathered at the scene, mourning the loss.

“What did these children do to them? What is their fault?” asked their grandmother, Suad Abu Teima, as mourners knelt to kiss the children’s bloodied faces. Red flowers were placed inside the body bags as relatives wept.

Casualties were also reported in northern and central parts of Gaza. Twelve people were killed near the Palestine Stadium in Gaza City, where many displaced people had sought shelter. Another eight were killed in nearby apartment blocks, according to staff at Shifa Hospital. Nasser Hospital reported receiving over 20 bodies.

Series of Israeli strikes

A separate midday strike on a street in eastern Gaza City killed 11 people, whose bodies were transported to Al-Ahli Hospital. That same hospital confirmed eight more fatalities, including five children, in another strike on a gathering nearby. Meanwhile, a strike on the entrance to the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza claimed two lives, according to Al-Awda Hospital.

Peace efforts

Despite the ongoing violence, diplomatic efforts appear to be gaining momentum. Former U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on Friday, “We’re working on Gaza and trying to get it taken care of,” suggesting a ceasefire agreement could materialise within the next week.

An official with knowledge of the negotiations confirmed that Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer is expected to travel to Washington next week for discussions centred on Gaza, Iran, and other key issues. The official spoke anonymously as they were not authorised to speak publicly.

Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas have continued sporadically since the collapse of the last ceasefire in March. The ongoing Israeli military campaign has significantly worsened the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas’ 7 October 2023 attack on Israel, around 50 are believed to still be held in Gaza--fewer than half are thought to be alive.

“What more is left to do in Gaza that has not already been done? Who else is left to eliminate?” said Yotam Cohen, whose brother Nimrod is among the remaining hostages. He spoke on Saturday evening at a rally held by hostage families, which resumed following a recent ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the war has now claimed over 56,000 Palestinian lives. While the ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, it states that more than half of the dead are women and children. The figure includes 6,089 killed since the collapse of the most recent truce.

Israel maintains it is targeting militants and blames civilian deaths on Hamas, accusing the group of embedding its fighters in densely populated areas.

Cries from the rubble

Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to escalate. Hunger is widespread, with Israel having blocked all food supplies for two and a half months before allowing limited aid into the enclave since mid-May. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 500 Palestinians have been killed and hundreds more injured while attempting to access food distributed by the recently established Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

Palestinian witnesses report that Israeli troops have fired on crowds approaching aid sites, while the Israeli military claims it has only used warning shots and is investigating any incidents where civilians were harmed.

Thousands of residents have reportedly walked for hours--often through Israeli-controlled zones--to reach aid sites. UN-led efforts to distribute food have also been hampered by armed groups looting convoys and desperate civilians offloading supplies.

Saturday’s toll also included two people fatally shot while waiting for aid near the Netzarim corridor, a road dividing northern and southern Gaza. Al-Shifa and Al-Awda hospitals each received one of the bodies. The Israeli military has not issued a comment on the incident.