Gaza health officials said on Monday that the number of people killed in the Israeli offensive had risen to at least 33,797, while the Israeli military pledged to remain focused on defeating the Hamas militant group and ensuring the release of all hostages still held in Gaza.

Gaza’s health ministry said the death toll in the past day stood at 68, with more than 76,000 injured since the war between Israel and Hamas began in October. The death toll was divided between militants and civilians, but the ministry said about two-thirds of those killed were women and children.

Following Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, which killed 1,200 people, Israel began an operation to eliminate Hamas.

The Israeli military said on Monday it had struck a site used by the militant group Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The military said Israeli jets also intercepted a drone approaching the country from the east.

After Iran launched drone and missile attacks on Saturday, Israeli military spokesman Maj. Gen. Daniel Hagari said Israel had not forgotten its “critical mission in Gaza” to free the 133 hostages still held by Hamas. . About 100 hostages are believed to be alive.

Negotiators have been working for weeks to reach a proposed ceasefire that would temporarily halt the fighting. The deal would include the release of about 40 hostages by Hamas and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners by Israel. Humanitarian aid will also be increased to Gaza civilians in desperate need.

The Israeli military also said on Sunday it was activating two reserve brigades for operations in Gaza. The move comes ahead of a planned offensive on Rafah, which Israeli leaders say is necessary to complete the mission to eliminate Hamas, the U.S.-designated terrorist group.

The United Nations, the United States and other countries have expressed concern that a large-scale Israeli offensive in Rafah could trigger a humanitarian catastrophe. The Rafah area is home to more than half of Gaza’s population.

Information for this report was provided in part by The Associated Press, AFP and Reuters.