Hamas delegation arrives in Cairo in bid to rescue shaky Gaza truce

A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Monday to follow up on a ceasefire agreement for the territory amid increased Israeli violations that have threatened the truce and killed dozens.

Several strikes on Sunday killed at least 46 Palestinians across the enclave, with Israel saying it will stick to the ceasefire agreement again once its latest bout of violence ends.

Israeli forces targeted a shelter for the displaced in the Nuseirat refugee camp, while others were killed in north and south Gaza, alleging this was in response to Hamas violating the ceasefire agreement.

The military claimed the Palestinian group had "fired anti-tank missiles and gunfire at army engineering vehicles that were working to destroy terrorist infrastructure in the Rafah area, in accordance with the terms of the agreement". 

US President Donald Trump has said he believes Hamas is sticking to the truce, but other armed Palestinian factions might be targeting Israeli forces, including the killing of two soldiers on Sunday.

Israel on Sunday also closed all land crossings into Gaza, halting the entry of vital humanitarian aid into the enclave, despite the warnings from NGOs of potential famine.

Hamas denied committing any violations, stressing in a statement that it had been abiding by the truce "with utmost precision and responsibility".

The group also noted that 132 Palestinians have been wounded since the ceasefire was agreed on 10 October.

Hamas has since called on the guarantors - including Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the US - to take immediate action to ensure all the terms of the deal are being followed by Israel, following its violations of the truce.

"These violations ranged from direct fire against civilians to deliberate shelling and targeting, the use of simultaneous air strikes, and the arrest of a number of civilians," a statement from the office read.

An unnamed Egyptian official, who is involved in the meetings held over the ceasefire, told reporters that "round-the-clock" contacts took place overnight in an effort to de-escalate the situation.

Trump has emphasised that the ceasefire is still in effect and Washington is doing all it can to ensure that peace returns to Gaza.

"We want to make sure that it’s going to be very peaceful with Hamas…and as you know, they’ve been quite rambunctious, but either way, it’s going to be handled toughly, but properly," he told reporters.

US officials last week also stressed that Hamas has not violated the truce from their perspective, despite Israel reiterating that the group has done so through the delayed return of the bodies of captives.

Meanwhile, Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are expected to arrive in Israel on Monday, Haaretz reported, where they will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

According to sources cited in Israeli media, the discussions will likely be focused on the implementation of the ceasefire and the future deployment of an international stabilisation force to Gaza.

They will also discuss the disarmament of Hamas and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Palestinian territory.

The meeting comes ahead of the US submitting a draft resolution to the UN Security Council to appoint the international force to Gaza.