AMMAN — The Gaza ceasefire remained in place on Sunday despite a new wave of Israeli airstrikes that killed dozens of Palestinians in the southern part of the enclave, AFP reported, as both sides traded accusations of violating the nine-day-old truce, according to AFP.

US President Donald Trump, who helped broker the agreement at the Sharm El Sheikh Peace Summit earlier this month, told reporters that the ceasefire “is still holding”, suggesting that recent incidents involved “some rebels within” rather than Hamas leadership. “We want to make sure that it’s going to be very peaceful with Hamas. The situation will be managed firmly, yet appropriately,” he said.

Gaza’s civil defence agency said the strikes killed at least 45 people, while four hospitals confirmed the toll with AFP and reported dozens of wounded. The Israeli army said it was “reviewing reports of civilian casualties” but asserted that it had “renewed enforcement of the ceasefire” and would “respond firmly to any violation”.

Hamas denied any breach of the truce, accusing Israel of “fabricating pretexts” to justify renewed bombings. The group said it remained committed to the ceasefire but warned that retrieving the bodies of captives would require heavy machinery, which Israel has banned from entering Gaza.

Meanwhile, Israeli officials said the entry of humanitarian aid had been temporarily suspended. Aid agencies warned that such interruptions could worsen already catastrophic conditions, with over 80 per cent of Gaza’s population now dependent on external assistance, according to UN data.


The Gaza ceasefire is part of a broader international initiative aiming to end the two-year war and lay the foundation for a post-war recovery. While the truce has largely held, experts warn it remains vulnerable amid political tensions and field developments.

Mohammad Khair Jarwan, assistant professor of political and international studies at Yarmouk University, said the agreement “remains intact for now” but faces growing fragility as Israel’s political and military rhetoric hardens.

“The ceasefire can persist in the short term given mediators’ efforts. However, rising calls within Israel to resume military operations, reflected in intermittent strikes, may push towards reactivating the deterrence equation by force. The Sharm El Sheikh Agreement depends on delicate balances, domestic politics in Israel, conditions on the ground in Gaza, and mediators’ ability to contain escalation.”

Political analyst Thamer Anawsa shared a similar view, warning that Israel may repeatedly test the truce and exploit any minor breach to justify renewed operations.

“Israel will try again and again to breach the ceasefire and return to military action,” he said.

 

“The first phase, releasing captives and remains, is critical for both the US and Israel. Yet the disarmament clause remains pivotal for Trump and Netanyahu and existential for the resistance. The US maintains that Hamas has not violated the truce, which unsettles hardliners in Israel who continue to block aid and push for renewed airstrikes. I believe Israel will attempt to use any pretext to pressure Washington and resume its military campaign.”