Fighting rages across Gaza amid revival of truce talks

Israeli strikes have killed 77 Palestinians in Gaza in the past 24 hours, the territory's health authorities said on March 31, as Egypt hosted an Israeli delegation for a new round of talks in a bid to secure a truce with Gaza's Hamas rulers.

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The Israeli military said it killed a senior Islamic Jihad militant in a strike on a command centre in the courtyard of the Al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza.

"The command centre and terrorists were struck precisely, intended on minimising harm to uninvolved civilians in the area of the hospital," the military said.

"The Al-Aqsa Hospital building was not damaged and its functioning was not affected." There was no immediate comment from Islamic Jihad, a militant group and Hamas ally.

Palestinian health officials and Hamas media said the strike hit several tents inside the hospital, killing four people and wounding several, including five journalists.

The two sides have stepped up negotiations, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, on a six-week suspension of Israel's offensive in return for the proposed release of 40 of 130 hostages still held by Hamas militants in Gaza after their Oct 7 attack on southern Israel.