The militant group, whose October 7 attack on southern Israel triggered the Gaza war, said talks would “focus on ensuring the agreement leads to a complete cessation of hostilities (and) the withdrawal of occupation forces”.

But Hamas and Israel then accused each other of setting new conditions and obstacles.

Such rocket launches had become rare but have intensified since late December as Israel presses a three-month offensive in the north of the territory.

‘Everything was shaking’

“A huge explosion woke us up. Everything was shaking,” said neighbour Ahmed Mussa. “It was home to children, women. There wasn’t anyone wanted or who posed a threat.”

The Israeli army said the five had been “implicated in terrorist activities” and were not escorting aid trucks at the time of the strike.

Medics walk through the aftermath of an attack near al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, Gaza on Thursday. Source: AAP, ABACA / Middle East Images/PA

Rescuers said strikes elsewhere in Gaza killed 10 other people. The health ministry in Gaza said a total of 136 people had been killed over the previous 48 hours.

Israel’s retaliatory military campaign has killed more than 45,000 people in Gaza, according to figures from the Gaza health ministry, which the United Nations considers reliable.

Hamas releases video of Israeli hostage

In response, her family issued an appeal to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying: “It’s time to take decisions as if it were your own children there.”

The families of hostages held in Gaza by Hamas have repeatedly called on the Israeli government to do more to reach a ceasefire and secure their loved ones’ release. Source: AAP, EPA / Abir Sultan

Hamas militants seized more than 250 hostages during the 2023 attack, of whom 96 remain in Gaza. The Israeli military says 34 of those are dead.

Campaign group the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said the latest video was “firm and incontestable proof of the urgency of bringing the hostages home”.