23 people, including eight children, were killed in Israeli bombardments last night.

This was stated by the Gaza civil protection agency, AFP reported.

The string of strikes came just hours after Hamas, which rules Gaza, announced it was ready to release 10 Israeli hostages as part of ceasefire talks in Qatar.

The high death toll comes after the agency reported that 26 people were killed in Gaza on July 9, 29 on July 8 and 12 on July 7.

Agency official Mohammed al-Mughair said the latest wave of bombardments had hit central and southern Gaza, with the deadliest claiming 12 lives in Deir el-Balah.

Among the dead were 8 children and 2 women, he said, adding that Israeli warplanes had targeted "a gathering of civilians in front of a medical post".

Two people were killed in separate strikes on the Nuseirat camp and four lost their lives in the Boureij camp, both in central Gaza, Mughair said.

The Israeli military (IDF) had no immediate comment. | BGNES