Mediators Pursue Cease-Fire as Gaza Violence Continues

In Gaza, violence continues amidst efforts for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. An Israeli airstrike killed 18 people, while mediators from the US, Egypt, and Qatar express optimism for a peace deal. The mediation aims to release Israeli hostages and calm regional tensions, but recent proposals have faced complications.

As mediators expressed optimism for an imminent cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas, violence raged on Saturday in the Gaza Strip, where an Israeli airstrike killed at least 18 people, all from the same family.

The attack came days after the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza announced the death toll surpassed 40,000 in the 10-month-old war, and hours after officials from the United States, Egypt, and Qatar ended two days of cease-fire talks with a message of hope that a deal could be reached.

A joint statement from the mediators said a proposal to bridge the gaps between Israel and Hamas was presented, and they expected to work out the details of how to implement the possible deal next week in Cairo.

(With inputs from agencies.)