The death toll in Gaza has officially surpassed 40,000, as negotiations on a ceasefire deal are reportedly underway in Doha, according tp The New Arab's Gaza correspondent and AFP.
At least 40 were killed in overnight strikes, bringing the official death toll to 40,005, health officials confirmed. 92,401 Palestinians have also been wounded throughout Israel's military campaign since October 7.
Israel continued to pound the Gaza Strip on Thursday, killing several in Gaza City and Bani Suhaila, while surveillance and attack drones were seen hovering in the skies of Gaza City and Khan Younis.
The Doha ceasefire conference - which will be attended by officials from Egypt, the US, and Israel - is being described as a "last-chance summit".
Hamas won't participate in the talks, a senior figure in the movement told The New Arab's Arabic-language sister site, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, insisting on a return to the Joe Biden-backed ceasefire plan, initially issued in May, which Israel has reportedly scuppered with additional demands.