President Trump raised expectations last week when he told reporters in the Oval Office that there could be a ceasefire agreement within the next week.

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Israeli strikes killed at least 72 people across Gaza overnight and into Saturday, health workers said, as ceasefire prospects were said to be improving after 21 months of war.

Dozens of Palestinians have died in several rounds of Israeli airstrikes from Friday night until Saturday morning, officials said.