TEL AVIV, Israel (news agencies) — Two of U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoys traveled to Israel on Monday to shore up the ceasefire in Gaza, a day after deadly violence gave the fragile deal its first major test.
The truce appeared on track as Israel received the remains of another hostage in Gaza, and Israel allowed aid deliveries to resume to the devastated territory. United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric did not say how much aid was getting in.
Israel on Sunday had threatened to halt shipments of humanitarian aid, and its forces killed dozens of Palestinians in strikes across Gaza after accusing Hamas militants of killing two soldiers. Israel later said it resumed enforcing the ceasefire.
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about developments in the region. U.S. Vice President JD Vance and the second lady, Usha Vance, are scheduled to visit Tuesday and meet with Netanyahu, the prime minister said in a speech.
Netanyahu also warned Hamas that any attacks against Israeli forces would be met with “a very heavy price.”
Asked about maintaining the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, Trump said the U.S. will give the situation a “little chance” in hopes that there will be less violence. He put the blame on Hamas and said the militant group must behave or face consequences.
“They have to be good, and if they’re not good they’ll be eradicated,” he said.
The U.S.-proposed truce aimed at ending two years of war took effect on Oct. 10.
On Sunday, Trump told reporters that Hamas had been “doing some shooting.” He also suggested that the violence might be the fault of “rebels” within the group.
Hamas security forces have returned to the streets in Gaza, clashing with armed groups and killing alleged gangsters in what the militant group says is an attempt to restore law and order in areas where Israeli troops have withdrawn.
On Sunday, Israel’s military said militants had fired at troops in areas of Rafah in southern Gaza that are Israeli-controlled according to agreed-upon ceasefire lines.
Retaliatory strikes by Israel killed 45 Palestinians, according to the territory’s Health Ministry, which says a total of 80 people have been killed since the ceasefire took effect.
Hamas, which continued to accuse Israel of multiple ceasefire violations, said communication with its remaining units in Rafah had been cut off for months and “we are not responsible for any incidents occurring in those areas.”
The Israeli military said Monday it was using concrete barriers and painted poles to more clearly delineate the so-called yellow line in Gaza to where troops have withdrawn and several instances of violence have occurred.
Earlier in the day, Israel said one of its fighter jets struck and killed several people it said had crossed the yellow line in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, approached troops and “posed an imminent threat.” In two similar incidents Monday in a neighborhood of Gaza City, the military said it struck several people who crossed the line there and posed an “immediate threat” to its troops.
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