GAZA: Gaza’s civil defense rescue agency reported that a Zionist air strike killed 10 members of a family on Friday in the northern part of the territory, including seven children. Violence in the Gaza Strip continues to rock the coastal territory more than 14 months into the Zionist-Hamas war, even as international mediators work to negotiate a ceasefire between the Zionist entity and Hamas fighters.

“There are 10 martyrs ... all targeted by an air strike on their home in Jabalia al-Nazla, southwest of Jabalia. All of the martyrs are from the same family, including seven children, the oldest aged six,” civil defense agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP. Bassal said the strike injured 15 other people. The Zionist entity in early October began a major military operation in Gaza’s north, which it said aimed to prevent Hamas from regrouping there. Hamas and two other Palestinian groups said on Saturday that a Gaza ceasefire deal with Zionist entity is “closer than ever”, provided Zionist entity does not impose new conditions. Last week, indirect negotiations between Zionist entity and Hamas mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States were held in Doha, rekindling hope of an agreement.

“The possibility of reaching an agreement (for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal) is closer than ever, provided the enemy stops imposing new conditions,” Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine said in a rare joint statement issued after talks in Cairo on Friday. — Agencies

A Hamas leader told AFP on Saturday that talks had made “significant and important progress” in recent days. “Most points related to the ceasefire and prisoner exchange issues have been agreed upon,” he said on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak publicly on the issue.

“Some unresolved points remain, but they do not hinder the process. The agreement could be finalized before the end of this year, provided it is not disrupted by (Zionist entity Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu’s new conditions.” He said that if an agreement is reached it will be implemented in phases, ending with “a serious prisoner exchange deal, a permanent ceasefire and a complete withdrawal (of Zionist entity forces) from Gaza.” – Agencies