By Nidal al-Mughrabi CAIRO (Reuters) -Israeli military strikes across Gaza killed at least 27 people on Wednesday, Palestinian medics said, as international mediators stepped up efforts to seal a ceasefire and hostage exchange deal between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas.

At least 19 Palestinians, including eight children, were killed in Israeli air strikes in southern Gaza overnight, local health officials say. A mother and her four children were reportedly killed when a tent camp for displaced people in al-Mawasi was hit, while another a couple and their children died in the nearby city of Khan Younis.

The Israeli military said it targeted militants who had taken part in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that sparked the war, without providing evidence.

Israel launched its assault on Gaza after Hamas attacked southern Israel on 7 October, 2023, killing 1,200 people and capturing more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Nearly 46,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeal’s retaliatory offensive.