Since the ceasefire came into effect, Israel has killed at least 97 Palestinians while violating the agreement 80 times.

Israel launched a series of deadly airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Sunday in another violation of the ceasefire deal, killing at least 44 Palestinians in the blockaded territory.

The Israeli airstrikes marked the most violent attacks since the fragile ceasefire came into effect on October 10. 

Israel’s attacks targeted southern and northern Gaza, including a displaced people’s tent in the Nuseirat refugee camp. 

Israel’s military later said that it “has begun the renewed enforcement of the ceasefire”, alleging it targeted Hamas while accusing the group of violating the deal.

The attacks came after Israel claimed that its troops were in combat with Hamas fighters in Rafah, as reports pointed to clashes between the group and Israel-backed militias.

However, Hamas issued a statement saying it had “no knowledge of any incidents or clashes taking place” in Rafah, adding that the area is under the red zones controlled by Israel.

U.S. President Donald Trump maintained that the ceasefire was still in effect, noting that Hamas’s leadership might not have been involved in the alleged violations.

“We think maybe the leadership isn’t involved in that,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Sunday evening.

Trump added that he wanted “to make sure that it’s going to be very peaceful with Hamas”.

Israel also killed two other Palestinians in Gaza City on Monday in another violation of the ceasefire deal.

Since the ceasefire came into effect, Israel has killed at least 97 Palestinians while violating the agreement 80 times, according to the Gaza Government Media Office. The violations included Israel’s refusal to re-open the vital Gaza-Egypt Rafah Crossing.

Israel broke the previous ceasefire deal reached on January 15 by mediators Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S.

Occupation forces had resumed their airstrikes across Gaza on March 18 after the first phase of the deal ended. Israel had also instantly resumed its genocidal war on December 1, 2023, a week after the mediators had reached a separate truce.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has killed at least 68,159 people in Gaza, with local rescuers continuing their mission to search for the thousands of bodies trapped under the rubble.

Hamas has maintained its commitment to handing over the living and dead captives. Hamas’s armed wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, handed over all living captives, with the search for the bodies of 16 captives ongoing.

Meanwhile, Hamas said it sent a delegation headed by chief negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya, to Cairo on Sunday evening. The group, in a Telegram statement, said the purpose is “to follow up on the implementation of the ceasefire agreement with mediators, Palestinian factions, and forces”.