At least 20,000 people have been killed in the besieged and war-hit Gaza Strip since the beginning of Israel's military campaign on October 7, the health ministry said.
Some 8,000 children and 6,200 women were among the dead, it said, as the conflict continued to rage more than two months after it broke out.
Meanwhile, intensive Qatari- and Egyptian-mediated talks have taken place for a possible second Gaza truce under which a number of Israeli hostages could be returned for Palestinians prisoners, Reuters said.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was in Cairo for ceasefire negotiations with Egyptian officials, as well as talks on the latest developments amid Israel's brutal military campaign in the Gaza Strip, an official statement confirmed.