At least 17 people from two families were among some 88 Palestinians killed by Israel in Gaza over the weekend, the territory's health authorities confirmed Sunday.
Israel's latest killings come amid as mediators launched a new cease-fire push to end its 15-month genocidal war.
Airstrikes on two houses in Gaza City, the first of which destroyed the home of the al-Ghoula family in the early hours, medics and residents said.
"At about 2 a.m. we were woken up by the sound of a huge explosion," said Ahmed Ayyan, a neighbor, adding that 14 or 15 people had been staying in the house.
"Most of them are women and children, they are all civilians, there is no one there who shot missiles, or is from the resistance," Ayyan told Reuters.
People scoured the rubble for any survivors trapped under the debris and medics said several children were among those killed. A few flames and trails of smoke still rose from burning furniture in the ruins hours after the attack.
The Israeli military said all those "targeted in the strike were involved in ... activities, which included exploiting humanitarian aid corridors" and that the strike was carried out at a distance from "aid trucks and did not affect the continued entrance of humanitarian aid."
Earlier Saturday, the military said a projectile, allegedly fired from Gaza, fell in the area of the Erez Crossing which "caused damage both to the area of the crossing and adjacent to the humanitarian truck compound."
Another strike on a house in Gaza City 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 military said earlier its forces had continued their operations this week in Beit Hanoun town on the northern edge of the enclave, where the army has been operating for three months, and has destroyed a military complex that Hamas allegedly had used.
At least six other Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes in Jabalia in the north and near the central town of Deir Al-Balah, medics said.
Saturday's deaths brought the toll to 70 since Friday, Palestinian health officials said.
A renewed push is underway to reach a cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas and return Israeli hostages before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20.
Israeli mediators were dispatched to resume talks in Doha brokered by Qatari and Egyptian mediators and U.S. President Joe Biden's administration, which is helping broker the talks, urged Hamas on Friday to agree to a deal.
Hamas said it was committed to reaching an agreement as soon as possible, but it was unclear how close the two sides were.
The Palestinian resistance group released a video Saturday showing Israeli hostage Liri Albag – who local media said was a soldier – urging Israel to do more to secure the hostages' release. She said their lives were in danger because of Israel's military action in Gaza.
Albag's family said the video had "torn our hearts to pieces."
"This is not the daughter and sister we know. Her severe psychological distress is evident," a family statement said, calling on Israel's government and world leaders not to miss the opportunity to bring all remaining hostages back alive.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in response to the video that Israel continued to work tirelessly to bring the hostages home.
"Anyone who dares to harm our hostages will bear full responsibility for their actions," he threatened.
Israel launched its genocidal war on Gaza following the Hamas incursion on Oct. 7, 2023, which caused around 1,200 deaths and took around 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
Tel Aviv's war, in comparison, has killed nearly 45,805 Palestinians, mostly women and children, the Gaza Health Ministry confirmed on Sunday. It has also leveled swathes of the enclave, driving most people from their homes.
