Hezbollah has said it will halt its strikes on Israel if there is a ceasefire CAIRO: At least 40,405 Palestinians have been killed and 93,468 others injured in Israel’s military offensive on Gaza since Oct. 7, said the Gaza Health Ministry on Sunday. In the last 24 hours, 71 were killed and 112 were injured in what the ministry called three “massacres” by Israel in the strip. The recent war in Gaza started after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies. Israel claims it goes out of its way to avoid civilian casualties and accuses Hamas of using human shields, an allegation the group denies. The US and other mediators see a ceasefire in Gaza as key to averting a wider Mideast war. FASTFACT Egypt was hosting high-level talks in Cairo on Sunday aimed at bridging the gaps in a proposal for a ceasefire and the release of scores of hostages held by Hamas. Hezbollah has said it will halt its strikes on Israel if there is a ceasefire. Egypt was hosting high-level talks in Cairo on Sunday aimed at bridging the gaps in a proposal for a truce and the release of scores of hostages held by Hamas. The talks include CIA director William Burns and David Barnea, the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency. Hamas sent a delegation to be briefed by Egyptian and Qatari mediators but did not directly participate in negotiations. On the ground in Gaza, witnesses said battles raged in the area of Deir Al-Balah, in Gaza’s central region.