Israeli military strikes have killed dozens of Palestinians across Gaza, health officials said, as Egypt hosted an Israeli delegation for a new round of talks in a bid to secure a truce with Gaza's Hamas rulers.
The warring sides have stepped up negotiations, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, on a six-week suspension of Israel's offensive in return for the proposed release of 40 of 130 hostages still held by Hamas militants in Gaza after their 7 October attack on southern Israel.
Hamas has sought to secure a deal involving an end to the fighting and withdrawal of Israeli forces.
Israel has ruled this out, saying it would eventually resume efforts to dismantle the governing and military capabilities of Hamas.
Hamas would not be present at the talks in Cairo, an official told Reuters, as it waited to hear from mediators on whether a new Israeli offer was on the table.
In the southern Gazan city of Khan Younis, Israeli forces continued to blockade the two main hospitals, and tanks shelled areas in the middle and eastern areas of the territory.
Palestinian health officials said an Israeli air strike killed nine people in Bani Suhaila near Khan Younis, while another air strike killed four people in Al-Maghazi camp in central Gaza.
In Deir Al-Balah, health officials and Hamas media said an Israeli air strike hit several tents inside Shuhada Al-Aqsa Hospital, killing four people and wounding several, including some journalists.
In Gaza City, Israeli forces continued to operate inside Al Shifa Hospital, the territory's health ministry said.
Residents living nearby said residential districts had been destroyed by Israeli forces near Al Shifa.
"I went out looking to buy some medicine from a pharmacy and what I saw was heart-breaking. Complete streets with buildings that used to stand there had been destroyed," said Abu Mustafa,49.
"...This is not war, this is genocide," he told Reuters over the phone from Gaza City.
The Israeli military (IAF) said forces operating in Al Shifa killed gunmen barricading the area and had found weapons.
"Several compounds used to launch anti-tank missiles and where snipers operated were struck by IAF aircraft" in the Rimal neighbourhood near Shifa, the military said.
It added that forces killed 15 gunmen in central Gaza and several in Khan Younis, including near Al-Amal hospital.
Israel said it killed and detained hundreds of Hamas and Islamic Jihad gunmen at Al Shifa during a raid.
Hamas and medical staff deny any armed presence inside medical facilities, accusing Israel of killing and arresting civilians.
In the peace talks, Hamas also wants hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who were displaced from Gaza City and surrounding areas southward during the first stage of the war to be allowed back north.
More than 32,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's military offensive in Gaza since 7 October, according to health authorities in the territory.
The war erupted after Hamas militants broke through the border and rampaged through communities in southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and abducting 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
The World Court on Thursday unanimously ordered Israel, accused by South Africa of genocide in Gaza, to take all necessary and effective action to ensure basic food supplies to the population.
To help alleviate the suffering of Gaza's people, another aid ship was sailing from the Mediterranean island-nation of Cyprus to bring 400 tonnes of food relief, as part of a small flotilla.
Foreign powers have ramped up aid airdrops, although UN agencies and charities warn this falls far short of the dire need.
Several people have died in stampedes or drowned trying to retrieve packages from the sea.
Tensions have risen over the spiralling civilian death toll between Israel and its chief backer the United States, especially over Israeli threats to push ground forces into Gaza's crowded far-southern city of Rafah.
Washington has nonetheless approved billions of dollars worth of bombs and fighter jets for Israel in recent days, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing unnamed officials.
Israelis march against Netanyahu in mass protest
Thousands of Israelis calling for boosted efforts to free the hostages held in Gaza and the resignation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu marched in Jerusalem on Sunday, the second consecutive night of mass protests.
Demonstrators blocked a main city highway after earlier rallying in front of the Israeli parliament, lighting fires and waving Israeli flags.
Police used water cannon against them, jostling and pushing protesters back as they shouted that Netanyahu "must go".
Protesters claimed the Jerusalem protest was the biggest since the war in Gaza broke out in October.
Pressure has been growing on Netanyahu as those opposed to his ring-wing government and the hostages' families have found common cause.
Families of the hostages held in Gaza say they will take to the streets every night this week in a bid to "bring them home".
Thousands who gathered Saturday in two separate protests in Tel Aviv - Israel's largest city - blocked the city main motorway for nearly two hours.
Others picketed Netanyahu's Jerusalem home on Saturday chanting slogans and calling for him to quit.
Even before the war, Netanyahu faced months of street protests over controversial judicial reform.
Meanwhile, Mr Netanyahu was to undergo hernia surgery on Sunday, his office said.
Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Yariv Levin will stand in while Mr Netanyahu, 74, undergoes full anaesthesia, his office said.
It added that doctors had discovered the hernia on Saturday during a routine checkup.
