"The end is near"

"We are nearing the end of the operation in Gaza," Katz said in a statement, a week after the Jewish state ended its brief war with Iran.

He reiterated Israel's goals in the conflict, including the release of all hostages and the defeat of the Islamist group Hamas. US President Donald Trump said over the weekend that he expects a ceasefire in Gaza soon. However, it was not clear what he was basing his statement on.

Katz now appears to confirm Trump's optimism, but Palestinian sources say Monday was another bloody day in the coastal strip. At least 34 people were killed in Gaza City, Shifa hospital staff said, after witnesses reported that an Israeli strike hit a cafe on the promenade. Among the victims, as stated, are several minors and women, as well as a journalist. The Hamas group, which controls Gaza, said the attack targeted a camp for displaced people on the beach.

The Israeli army announced that the attack targeted several members of the terrorist organization Hamas in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. It is said to have taken measures to protect civilians, including aerial surveillance of the area. The incident is currently under investigation, the statement added.

The Israeli military did not provide information on possible casualties. According to Palestinian medical sources, at least 100 people were killed in Israeli attacks on Monday.