Gaza’s Health Ministry reported 70 new deaths Thursday in the Israel-Hamas war, pushing the total number of Palestinians killed to more than 46,000 since the conflict began in October 2023.
In addition to those killed, the ministry said more than 109,300 people have been injured.
The ministry does not differentiate between militants and civilians in its count, but has said more than half the victims are women and children.
The war in Gaza began with the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack in which the militants killed 1,200 people and took about 250 others hostage. There are still about 100 hostages being held in Gaza, with at least one-third of them believed to be dead.
Egypt, Qatar and the United States are leading efforts to try to secure a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas with the release of hostages and a surge of humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday said a deal was “very close,” and that he hopes to secure an agreement before President Joe Biden’s term ends on January 20.
“I hope that we can get it over the line in the time that we have left, but if we don’t, then the plan that President Biden put forward for a ceasefire-hostage deal will be handed over to the incoming administration,” Blinken said.
The United States, United Kingdom, European Union and others have designated Hamas as a terror group.
Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
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