CAIRO/GAZA, Jan 5 (Reuters) – Over the past 24 hours, Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip have claimed the lives of at least 70 individuals, according to Palestinian medical sources on Saturday, as renewed diplomacy aimed at brokering a ceasefire in the 15-month-long conflict gained momentum.

Among the casualties, 17 were killed during airstrikes targeting two houses in Gaza City, with a significant hit occurring at the residence of the Al-Ghoula family in the early morning hours, local medics and residents reported.

"Around 2 a.m., we were jolted awake by a massive explosion," said Ahmed Ayyan, a nearby resident. "There were about 14 to 15 individuals staying in that house, most of them women and children, all civilians. None of them were militants or involved in launching rockets," Ayyan told Reuters.

Efforts to search the rubble for survivors revealed that several children were among the dead, medical teams stated. Even hours after the attack, smoldering remains of furniture could be seen amid the ruins, with faint smoke trailing upward.

The Israeli military defended the strike, stating that all those targeted were "actively engaged in terrorist activities, including the misuse of humanitarian aid corridors." It further clarified that the operation was carried out away from humanitarian aid delivery areas to ensure continued access for relief supplies.

Earlier on Saturday, the Israeli military reported that a projectile from Gaza struck near the Erez Crossing, causing damage to both the crossing itself and an adjacent area designated for aid trucks. This incident further escalated the tense situation.

In a separate attack later that day, another airstrike on a home in Gaza City led to the deaths of five individuals, according to the Palestinian Civil Emergency Service. An additional 10 people were feared to be buried under the debris.

The Israeli Defense Forces also stated that ongoing operations throughout this week in the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun resulted in the destruction of a Hamas-run military complex. This area has been under heavy military activity for the past three months.

Elsewhere, airstrikes in Jabalia, in northern Gaza, and near the town of Deir Al-Balah in the central region, killed six more Palestinians, medical sources confirmed.

The death toll now stands at 70 since Friday, according to Palestinian health authorities.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to establish a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas are being renewed ahead of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20. The efforts also aim to secure the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

Israeli negotiators resumed discussions in Doha with Qatari and Egyptian mediators, while U.S. President Joe Biden's administration, playing a supporting role in the talks, pressed Hamas on Friday to agree to a deal.

Hamas stated on Saturday that it remains committed to securing an agreement as swiftly as possible, though it remains unclear how close the parties are to reaching a resolution.

In a show of pressure, Hamas released a video on Saturday featuring Israeli hostage Liri Albag, whom local reports identified as a soldier, appealing to Israeli authorities to take greater action for her release. She warned that the ongoing Israeli strikes in Gaza placed the hostages’ lives in grave jeopardy.

Her family issued an emotional statement in response to the video, saying, "This footage has shattered our hearts. The psychological toll on her is apparent." They implored the Israeli government and international leaders to seize the moment to secure the safe return of all hostages.

In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed that Israel remains unrelenting in its efforts to bring the hostages home. "Anyone who endangers our hostages will be held fully accountable for their actions," he declared.

The Israeli military campaign in Gaza began in retaliation for a large-scale Hamas assault on Oct. 7, 2023. During this attack, Hamas fighters infiltrated border communities, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages, Israeli officials reported.

Israel has since launched an offensive aiming to dismantle Hamas, resulting in widespread destruction across Gaza. Most of the enclave’s residents have been forced to flee their homes, and according to the Gaza health ministry, 45,717 Palestinians have lost their lives as of now.