A fragile ceasefire in Gaza is facing its most serious challenge just over a week after it began. New Israeli airstrikes hit the territory, and Israel has halted aid deliveries. This follows a wave of violence that has killed dozens of Palestinians and threatened a U.S.-brokered peace plan .
A Hamas delegation led by senior official Khalil al-Hayya arrived in Egypt on Sunday. The group said the visit was to discuss the implementation of the ceasefire agreement with mediators . This diplomatic move occurred alongside the deadly violence on the ground.
Israel's military launched a wave of airstrikes across Gaza on Sunday. It said this was a response to Hamas militants firing on its troops in the southern city of Rafah . Health officials in Gaza reported at least 36 Palestinians were killed in the strikes . An airstrike on a makeshift coffeehouse in Zawaida town in central Gaza killed at least six people . Another strike hit a tent in the Khan Younis area, killing at least four people, including a woman and two children .
Israel and Hamas each blame the other for violating the truce. An Israeli security official said the transfer of humanitarian aid into Gaza was halted "until further notice" . The official later confirmed aid would resume on Monday . Israel's government said the Rafah border crossing with Egypt would also stay closed .
Hamas stated it remains fully committed to the ceasefire . The group said it was not responsible for incidents in Rafah. It claimed communication with its units there had been cut off for months . A senior Egyptian official involved in negotiations said "round-the-clock" contacts are underway to de-escalate the situation .
The ceasefire, which took effect on October 11, was the result of a U.S. plan backed by President Donald Trump . The first phase involved the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails . The next stages are meant to focus on disarming Hamas, an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and establishing a new governing mechanism for the territory .
A major point of recent dispute is the handover of the remains of deceased hostages. Hamas has returned the bodies of 12 hostages so far, including two identified on Sunday as Ronen Engel and Sonthaya Oakkharasri . Israel demands Hamas return the bodies of all 28 hostages it claims are held. Hamas says the war's devastation and Israeli military control have slowed this process . In return, Israel has released 150 bodies of Palestinians back to Gaza, though only 25 have been identified .
The war, which began after Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has killed more than 68,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry . The ministry's records are seen as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts .
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed the military to take "strong action" against any ceasefire violations. However, he did not threaten to return to a full-scale war . For Palestinians in Gaza, the fear of renewed full-scale war is intense. The territory remains famine-stricken after Israel cut off aid for over two months earlier this year .
Formidable obstacles remain for the U.S. peace plan. Key issues like the disarmament of Hamas, the future governance of Gaza, and the formation of an international force are still unresolved . The recent violence shows how easily the fragile truce can be broken, putting a lasting peace in doubt.