The ceasefire in Gaza was put under strain over the weekend after Hamas terrorists attacked Israeli troops, killing two soldiers and wounding several others. Israel responded with a series of airstrikes on terror targets across Gaza, reigniting the conflict only days after a fragile calm had taken hold.

Hamas leaders claimed they had lost control of some of their fighters, but Israeli officials privately described the assaults as co-ordinated. Reports from within Gaza suggest growing internal friction between Hamas and rival militant factions, including Islamic Jihad, over control of the enclave now that Israeli forces have pulled back from some parts.

The escalation has raised fears of a wider confrontation and set back diplomatic efforts by Egypt and Qatar to stabilise the region. In Washington, Donald Trump said he expected the truce to survive despite the violence, while his son-in-law Jared Kushner will arrive in Israel tomorrow for meetings with senior officials. Senator JD Vance is expected to visit later this week for discussions on US-Israel relations and regional security.

Analysts said the renewed fighting was unlikely to derail broader peace efforts at this time, though it could complicate humanitarian access and reconstruction in Gaza if hostilities and internal divisions continue to deepen.