Israeli strikes hit Gaza on Thursday, causing deaths and injuries according to Palestinian medical sources, as a group supporting Israeli hostages held by Palestinian militants alleged "sabotage" of efforts to free them.

The accusation from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum came with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a visit to Washington and after Israel's military said it had recovered from Gaza the bodies of five Israelis killed on the day the war began.

Netanyahu -- whose critics accuse him of prolonging the fighting -- is to hold talks Thursday with US President Joe Biden, who has been pushing a truce and hostage-release deal.

In a speech to the United States Congress on Wednesday, Netanyahu downplayed Palestinian civilian casualties during the more than nine months of war between Israeli forces and Hamas militants.

He again vowed to destroy Hamas and bring home the hostages.

The Hamas attack that started the war on October 7 resulted in the deaths of 1,197 people in Israel, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Out of 251 people taken hostage that day, 111 are still held in Gaza, including 39 the military says are dead.

At least 39,175........

© Al Monitor