Sat Jan 04 16:50:10 UTC 2025: ## Gaza Death Toll Rises Amid Renewed Ceasefire Push

**Cairo/Gaza – January 5, 2025** – An Israeli airstrike killed 12 Palestinians, including several children, in Gaza City early Saturday, bringing the total number of Palestinian deaths from Israeli strikes over the past 24 hours to 62, according to Palestinian medics. The strike destroyed the Al-Ghoula family home, leaving residents searching through the rubble for survivors. A neighbor reported that at least 14 people, mostly women and children, were inside the house at the time of the attack. The Israeli military has yet to comment on the incident.

Later Saturday, another airstrike killed three more Palestinians in central Gaza. This surge in violence comes as mediators launch a new ceasefire push in Doha, brokered by Qatar and Egypt, with the support of the U.S. administration. The renewed efforts aim to end the 15-month-old conflict and secure the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas since October 7, 2023, when a large-scale Hamas attack killed approximately 1,200 Israelis.

The Israeli military operation, which aims to eliminate Hamas, has resulted in the deaths of 45,717 Palestinians according to the Gaza health ministry, and widespread destruction across the Gaza Strip. While Hamas has stated its commitment to reaching an agreement, the prospects for a successful ceasefire remain uncertain. The intensified negotiations are taking place under pressure to reach a resolution before the inauguration of the U.S. President-elect.

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