Seven Palestinians have been killed in an Israeli strike on a five-storey building near Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, days after Israel ordered an estimated 250,000 people to leave the eastern parts of the war-torn city in southern Gaza Strip.

      Andrea De Domenico, head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the occupied Palestinian territory, said, “Nowhere and no one is safe in Gaza”, which has become a place “where people cannot find a safe refuge, and can’t leave the front line”.

      Hamas says its leader Ismail Haniyeh has been in contact with Qatari and Egyptian mediators regarding a ceasefire and captives exchange deal.

      Israel is evaluating Hamas’s remarks and “will convey its reply” to mediators, the Israeli spy agency Mossad said in a statement released by the Israeli prime minister’s office.

      At least 37,953 people have been killed and 87,266 wounded in Israel’s war on Gaza since October 7. The death toll in Israel from the Hamas-led attacks is estimated at 1,139 with dozens of people still held captive in Gaza.

      Israeli military announces death of soldier

      The Israeli military has announced that a soldier was killed on Wednesday during combat in northern Gaza.

      The deceased is a 21-year-old platoon commander in the 435th Infantry Battalion. It said that a captain and a combat officer were seriously injured in the same incident and have been evacuated to hospital.

      The death brings the total number of soldiers killed during Israel’s ground offensive against Hamas in Gaza to 324, according to The Times of Israel.

      What is happening with Gaza ceasefire talks?

      Gaza ceasefire and captive exchange negotiations are showing signs of revival with both Israel and Hamas acknowledging on Wednesday they are engaging with mediators in Qatar and Egypt.

      It could be a sign talks are picking up for the first time since Israel invaded Rafah city on May 6, hours after Hamas said it had accepted a ceasefire proposal.

      The latest developments come soon after a media report suggested that Israeli army generals were not happy with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s lack of progress on ending the war in Gaza.

      Netanyahu responded to those reports saying, “I don’t know who those unnamed parties are, but I am here to make it unequivocally clear: It won’t happen”.

      “We will end the war only after we have achieved all of goals, including the elimination of Hamas and the release of all our hostages,” he said.

      However, just over 24-hours later, Netanyahu’s official Prime Minister account on social media issued a short statement acknowledging Israel is evaluating a proposal from Hamas that was communicated through ceasefire mediators.

      If a deal is reached, it would be the first agreement between Israel and Hamas since a six-day pause in fighting in November saw 105 Israeli captives and 240 Palestinian prisoners freed.