Israel resumed airstrikes on Gaza after claiming Hamas violated the terms of the ceasefire [Getty]
A senior Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Sunday to discuss the implementation of the ceasefire agreement signed earlier this month in Sharm el-Sheikh, even as Israel launched new airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, accusing Hamas of breaking the truce.
In a statement, Hamas said that “a delegation from the leadership of the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas, headed by Khalil al-Hayya, has arrived in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, to follow up on the implementation of the ceasefire agreement with mediators, factions, and Palestinian forces”.
The agreement, brokered on 9 October under the framework of US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza, appears increasingly fragile as both sides trade accusations of violations.
According to Hamas, Israeli forces have continued to breach the terms of the truce since it came into effect on 10 October.
The movement said in a statement earlier on Sunday that it “remains committed to the ceasefire and is implementing its terms with full precision and responsibility”.
Hamas added that “Israel continues to commit violations of the agreement”. On Sunday night, the Gaza Media Office released a statement on these Israeli violations and subsequent Palestinian deaths since the ceasefire came into effect.
The statement, released on Telegram, said the Israeli army has committed 80 violations since 10 October, killing 97 people and wounding another 230.
The office called the actions “flagrant and clear violations of the ceasefire decision and the rules of international humanitarian law”.
These violations have been monitored in all governorates of Gaza without exception, it added
Additionally, it accused Israel of failing to comply with its obligations on aid delivery, withdrawal from certain areas, and the release of female and child prisoners.
The group called on mediators – Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the United States – “to intervene urgently to ensure the implementation of the agreement and to protect civilians”.
However, Israel’s military said it carried out a wave of air raids across Gaza on Sunday in response to what it described as “violations” by Hamas.
In a statement, the Israeli army claimed that Hamas fighters had fired “anti-tank shells and gunfire at engineering vehicles working to destroy terrorist infrastructure in the Rafah area in accordance with the terms of the agreement”.
At least 45 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli attacks, with an unknown number injured.
The army said it had “struck dozens of targets in the Gaza Strip” in retaliation. Hamas’s armed wing denied launching any such attacks.
Israel’s public broadcaster Kan also reported that the Israeli government decided late Sunday to close all Gaza crossings and halt the entry of humanitarian aid to the enclave “until further notice.” The move was reportedly made following a recommendation from the Israeli army.
However, on Sunday night, the Israeli military said it had resumed enforcing a ceasefire in Gaza after carrying out dozens of strikes on the Palestinian territory.
“In accordance with the directive of the political echelon, and following a series of significant strikes in response to Hamas’ violations, the IDF has begun the renewed enforcement of the ceasefire,” the military said in a statement.
“The IDF will continue to uphold the ceasefire agreement and will respond firmly to any violation of it.”
The latest escalation once again demonstrates the fragility of the Sharm el-Sheikh agreement, which aims to halt months of intense fighting and allow humanitarian relief into the besieged territory.
As the Hamas delegation begins talks in Cairo, mediators are expected to push for a renewed commitment from both sides to uphold the ceasefire and prevent a return to all-out war.
