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Israeli strikes kill 13 in Gaza, including child, medics say

An Israeli air strike killed a man, his wife and their six-year-old daughter in central Gaza on Wednesday, Palestinian health officials said, as talks to advance a US-brokered ceasefire showed little progress.

The strike on an apartment building in Deir Al-Balah killed Omar Abu Qassem, his wife Asma and their daughter Habeeba, medics said. Their son survived but was injured.

In Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood, another Israeli air strike killed one person, according to medics. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the incident.

Since the start of the ceasefire, the ministry said Israeli attacks have killed 1,123 Palestinians and injured 3,616 others, while 800 bodies have been recovered.​​​​​​​

The ceasefire halted large-scale fighting but has not stopped near-daily Israeli strikes. Four Israeli soldiers have also been killed in Gaza since the truce began.

Ceasefire talks stall

The latest violence came as Hamas officials concluded another round of ceasefire talks in Cairo on Tuesday.

The negotiations, mediated by Egypt, Türkiye and Qatar, sought to advance the second phase of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan.

According to sources familiar with the talks, discussions focused on Hamas’ disarmament and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, but made little progress.

The second phase of the proposal also envisages a US-backed Palestinian technocratic committee governing Gaza, the deployment of an international security force and the start of reconstruction efforts.