An Israeli missile strike hit a residential housing unit in the Al Tuffah neighbourhood east of Gaza [Source: EPA]

At least 10 Palestinians have been killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza, Palestinian media reported, and the Israeli military says it targeted a Hamas commander.

The strike hit a residential housing unit in the Al Tuffah neighbourhood east of Gaza City, according to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa.

The Israeli military said it “struck the commander of a Hamas terrorist cell … who was involved in the planning and execution of terrorist activities.”

It said it was aware of reports that several civilians were killed in the strike on Saturday.

Two others were killed by Israeli shelling on Gaza City and Jabalia in the north, and three in al-Mawasi in the south, the report said.

Meanwhile thousands took to the streets on Saturday to demand the government reach a truce with Hamas to would allow the release of the hundred hostages still held in the Gaza Strip.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum led the demonstration in Tel Aviv, which included an audio recording of Matan Angrest, one of the hostages still in the enclave.

“Netanyahu, you must make the exchange between the prisoners in Israel and the prisoners here,” Matan says in the video, his first evidence of life since October 7.

Hamas occasionally releases scripted video and audio messages from Israeli hostages to pressure for a ceasefire.

Matan’s mother, Anat, played the recording following a speech in which she urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to disregard the hard-line members of his coalition, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, in their opposition to an agreement with Hamas.

At least one person was arrested during the protests in Jerusalem, where there were minor clashes between demonstrators and police.

Negotiations for a cease-fire to free the Israeli hostages still held in the enclave have stalled despite efforts by mediating countries to restart the talks.