At Least 81 Reported Dead in Gaza Amid Ongoing Israeli Strikes
Over the last 24 hours, at least 81 Palestinians have been killed and more than 400 wounded in Israeli strikes across Gaza.
At least 81 Palestinians have been killed and more than 400 injured in Israeli strikes across Gaza over the past 24 hours, the Hamas-run health ministry reported on Saturday.
Among the casualties, at least 11 people — including children — died in a strike near the Palestine Stadium in Gaza City, where displaced families were sheltering in tents. Staff at Al-Shifa Hospital and eyewitnesses confirmed the incident.
“This area was packed with tents — now the tents are under the sand,” said Ahmed Qishawi, a survivor of the strike. “We spent hours digging with our bare hands. There are no wanted people here, no terrorists, only civilians and children targeted without mercy,” he told Reuters.
The attack near the stadium came as the Israeli offensive in Gaza continued into the weekend, despite renewed efforts to revive ceasefire negotiations.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he was hopeful a ceasefire could be reached within the next week. Qatari mediators echoed that optimism, saying they believe U.S. pressure could help secure a deal — especially after the recent truce between Israel and Iran that ended a 12-day conflict.
Efforts to broker a longer-term ceasefire in Gaza have stalled since March, when a previous two-month truce collapsed after Israel resumed strikes. That agreement, launched on January 19, was structured in three phases. It never advanced beyond the first stage.
The second phase, which remains unrealized, was supposed to establish a permanent ceasefire, facilitate the return of remaining hostages in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israel, and lead to the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
A senior Hamas official said Thursday that while mediators have intensified talks, negotiations with Israel remain at a standstill.
In Israel, public pressure for a resolution is growing. A rally held Saturday evening in Tel Aviv called for the immediate release of hostages still held in Gaza. Organizers declared, “The time has come to end the fighting and bring everyone home in one phase.”
Meanwhile, airstrikes continue to devastate the densely populated enclave, where conditions for civilians are rapidly deteriorating.