At least 34 Palestinians were killed overnight in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza, according to health officials, as humanitarian conditions continue to deteriorate and ceasefire negotiations inch forward.

The airstrikes, which began late Friday and continued into Saturday morning, included a strike on Palestine Stadium in Gaza City, which was sheltering displaced civilians. According to staff at Shifa Hospital, 12 bodies were brought in from the stadium attack, while another eight people were killed in an apartment building. A further six people died in Muwasi in southern Gaza when an Israeli strike hit a tent sheltering civilians.

The renewed bombardment comes amid cautious optimism that a ceasefire agreement may be within reach. Speaking from the Oval Office on Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump said, “We’re working on Gaza and trying to get it taken care of,” suggesting that a deal could be finalized in the coming week.

A U.S. official familiar with the matter told the Associated Press that Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer is expected to arrive in Washington next week for discussions on the Gaza ceasefire, Iran, and broader regional concerns. The official spoke on condition of anonymity, citing lack of authorization to speak publicly.

Ceasefire Talks and Hostage Crisis

Efforts to broker a lasting truce have been on-again, off-again since Israel resumed its offensive following the collapse of a previous ceasefire in March. Roughly 50 hostages are still believed to be held in Gaza, fewer than half of whom are thought to be alive. They are among the approximately 250 hostages taken by Hamas during its October 7, 2023 attack, which ignited the now 21-month-long war.

The conflict has killed more than 56,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Over half of the casualties are reported to be women and children.

Hamas has stated it is prepared to release all hostages in exchange for a complete end to the war, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists that the war will not end until Hamas is disarmed and removed from power—a condition Hamas rejects.

Humanitarian Collapse

The humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic. After more than two months of a complete food blockade, Israel began allowing limited aid into the Strip in mid-May. Distribution efforts by the United Nations have been hindered by looting, chaos, and desperation, with armed gangs hijacking trucks and crowds forcibly offloading supplies.

Witnesses and health officials report that Palestinians have been shot at while attempting to reach new aid distribution points, some run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a body reportedly supported by the U.S. and Israel. Eyewitnesses claim Israeli troops opened fire on civilians traveling to these sites. The Israeli military has acknowledged the incidents and stated it is conducting investigations.

Despite the carnage and deepening humanitarian crisis, there is hope among hostage families that Trump’s recent success in brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Iran may boost momentum for an agreement in Gaza. Analysts suggest Netanyahu may now feel he has more political space to negotiate, buoyed by public support from the Iran conflict, despite opposition from far-right factions within his coalition.