Reports: Over 45,000 Palestinians dead as ceasefire negotiations progress in Gaza

The conflict between Israel and Hamas terrorists in Gaza has claimed the lives of over 45,000 Palestinians, as ceasefire talks that have frequently stopped seem to be progressing, according to health officials in the beleaguered region on Monday.

Qatar, Egypt and the United States have renewed efforts to broker a ceasefire deal in recent days, and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Monday he believed negotiators are closer to a deal than at any time since the only previous truce, a week-long pause in November 2023 that saw 105 hostages released, as per sources.

Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, a key Hamas ally, agreed to a ceasefire late last month.

Palestinian health officials updated the Gaza death toll to 45,028. They said 106,962 others have been wounded since the war began, and warned that the true toll is higher because thousands of bodies are buried under rubble or in areas that medics cannot acces