Multiple Israeli airstrikes in southern Gaza have resulted in the deaths of at least three dozen Palestinians, health workers reported on Saturday. The airstrikes took place as officials, including a Hamas delegation, gathered in Egypt for ceasefire talks. Among the victims were 11 members of a family, including two children, after an airstrike struck their home in Khan Younis. The Nasser hospital received 33 bodies from three strikes in and around the city, while the Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital received three bodies from another strike. The Israeli military is currently investigating these reports.

In addition to these strikes, rescuers recovered 16 bodies from the Hamad City area of Khan Younis after Israeli forces partially withdrew. More bodies, totaling 10, were found in a residential block to the west of Khan Younis and two others were located further south in Rafah. Although the exact circumstances of their deaths remain unclear, these areas have been repeatedly targeted by the Israeli military over the past week.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of utter destruction, with residents returning to Hamad City only to find piles of rubble where their homes once stood. Amidst the devastation, one woman, Neveen Kheder, lamented the loss, stating, "There is nothing, no apartment, no furniture, no homes, only destruction. We are dying slowly. You know what, if they gave a mercy bullet it would be better than what is happening to us."

Meanwhile, the Israeli military announced the deaths of three reserve officers in fighting in the Gaza Strip the previous day. The officers, two major generals, and a lieutenant colonel, were killed in central Gaza, though further details were not provided.

The ongoing hostilities between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants have intensified in recent weeks, particularly in the Deir el-Balah area of central Gaza. Amidst the violence, Hamas still reportedly holds around 110 hostages, with about a third of them believed to be dead, according to Israeli authorities.

According to Gaza's health ministry, the Israeli offensive has resulted in the deaths of more than 40,000 Palestinians. However, the ministry's count does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Over the past 24 hours, 69 people have been reported dead and 212 wounded, with hospitals across the strip receiving the injured.

As the situation continues to escalate, experts met on Saturday to discuss technical issues ahead of high-level talks scheduled for Sunday in Cairo. The talks, mediated by the US, Egypt, and Qatar, aim to explore a possible ceasefire. Notably, a Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo, although they will not directly participate in the talks. They will, however, be briefed by Egypt and Qatar.

The US, represented by CIA Director William Burns and senior adviser Brett McGurk, is leading the negotiations. The US has been working on a proposal to bridge the gaps between Israel and Hamas, particularly regarding Israel's insistence on maintaining control over two strategic corridors in Gaza. Concerns over a wider regional war have grown following the recent targeted killings of leaders from Hamas and Hezbollah, both attributed to Israel.

To emphasize the importance of de-escalation, the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen CQ Brown Jr, plans to visit Egypt, Jordan, and Israel in the coming days. US President Joe Biden has been actively engaged, speaking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as leaders from Qatar and Egypt, to stress the urgency of reaching a ceasefire.

The main point of contention centers around the Philadelphi corridor along Gaza's border with Egypt and the Netzarim east-west corridor that traverses the territory. Netanyahu maintains that Israel must retain control of these corridors to prevent smuggling and apprehend militants. Hamas, on the other hand, continues to advocate for the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza in line with an earlier draft proposal.

As the talks continue, the violence and death toll continue to rise, placing immense pressure on all parties involved to urgently find a resolution and bring an end to the suffering of those affected by the conflict.