Officials now say they are closer than ever to reaching an agreement to pause the Israel-Hamas war and release hostages held in the Gaza Strip

In war-ravaged Gaza, thousands are still buried under rubble and dozens are missing after encounters with Israeli forces. Vast areas appear uninhabitable, and it could take decades to rebuild.

Gaza's civil defence agency said on Wednesday that Israeli strikes killed at least 27 people, as the military issued new evacuation calls in northern areas of the Palestinian territory.The latest Israeli strikes come as truce mediator Qatar said negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza were in their "final stages".

U.S., Qatari and Egyptian mediators shuttled between the Israeli and Hamas delegations in Doha on Tuesday, where officials said a deal to halt the war is near.

A Hamas official said the group has rejected an Israeli proposal for a Gaza ceasefire and that negotiations are continuing Wednesday. That’s after an Israeli official says the ceasefire