Israel’s armed forces continue to bombard Gaza, but officials also said diplomatic efforts were expected to resume in the coming days towards a truce and hostage release deal, AFP reports.

Air strikes and artillery shelling rained down again overnight on northern, central and southern area of Gaza. Fighting has centred on the far-southern city of Rafah, where Israel has vowed to destroy the last remaining Hamas battalions despite a chorus of international opposition to a ground invasion of the city.

Mediator Egypt was continuing “its efforts to reactivate ceasefire negotiations”, said Al-Qahera News, which has links with Egyptian intelligence.

Israeli media has said intelligence chief David Barnea had agreed a new framework for talks on a ceasefire in a meeting with America’s CIA chief and Qatari mediators in Paris.

At least 35,984 Palestinians have been killed and 80,643 injured in Israel’s military offensive on Gaza since Oct 7, Reuters quoted Gaza’s health ministry as saying.