By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Dawoud Abu Alkas
CAIRO/GAZA (Reuters) – Israeli military attacks on the Gaza Strip have killed at least 70 people in the last day, Palestinian doctors said on Saturday, as mediators launched a new ceasefire to end the 15-month-old war.
At least 17 of the dead were killed in airstrikes on two houses in Gaza City, the first of which destroyed the home of the Al-Ghoula family in the early hours, doctors and residents said.
Around 2 am we were woken up by the sound of a loud explosion,” said Ahmed Ayyan, a neighbor, adding that 14 or 15 people lived in the house.
“Most of them are women and children, they are all civilians, no one fired missiles, or came from the struggle,” Ayyan told Reuters.
People searched the rubble for any survivors trapped under the rubble and medics said many children were among the dead. A few flames and trails of smoke still rose from burning furniture in the ruins hours after the attack.
There was no immediate statement from the Israeli army on the incident.
Another attack on a Gaza house killed five people later Saturday, the Palestinian Civil Emergency Service said, adding that at least 10 others were feared trapped under the rubble.
The Israeli army said earlier that its forces continued to operate this week in the town of Beit Hanoun on the northern edge of the enclave, where the army has been operating for three months, and destroyed a military base used by Hamas.
At least six other Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes in Jabalia in the north and near the town of Deir Al-Balah, doctors said.
Saturday's death brought the total to 70 since Friday, Palestinian health officials said.
UPDATE OF Ceasefire PUSH
A renewed push is underway to reach a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and return Israeli hostages before US President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20.
Israeli mediators have been sent to resume negotiations in Doha, which were moderated by Qatari and Egyptian mediators, and the administration of US President Joe Biden, who is helping the broker in the negotiations, encouraged Hamas on Friday to accept the agreement.
Hamas has said it is committed to reaching an agreement as soon as possible, but it is unclear how close the two sides are.
The armed group released a video on Saturday showing Israeli hostage Liri Albag – who local media said was a soldier – urging Israel to do more to protect the detainees. He said their lives are in danger because of the Israeli army in Gaza.
Albag's family said the video “tore our hearts out”.
“This is not the daughter and sister we know. Her deep psychological distress is evident,” the family's statement said, calling on the Israeli government and world leaders not to miss the opportunity to return all the prisoners alive.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in response to the video that Israel continued to work diligently to bring the detainees home.
“Anyone who dares to harm the hostages will bear full responsibility for their actions,” he said.
Israel launched its offensive on Gaza in response to a Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, in which soldiers attacked a community from Gaza, killing about 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages, according to the Israelis.
Its military campaign, with the stated aim of eliminating Hamas, has laid waste to swathes of the enclave, driven many people from their homes, and killed 45,717 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry.