TEL AVIV, Israel — Two U.S. envoys arrived in Israel on Monday to reinforce a fragile ceasefire in Gaza. This visit comes after a significant escalation in violence, which resulted in dozens of casualties from Israeli airstrikes. The Israeli military had accused Hamas militants of killing two soldiers, prompting threats to halt aid transfers.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the situation. An Israeli government spokesperson confirmed that aid deliveries would resume on Monday through various crossings, pending Israeli inspections. However, by early afternoon, it was unclear if aid had begun flowing again.

The ceasefire, proposed by the U.S., has been in effect for over a week, aiming to end two years of conflict. President Donald Trump commented on the situation, stating that Hamas has been "quite rambunctious" and suggested that internal factions within the group might be responsible for the recent violence.

Since the ceasefire began, Hamas security forces have reemerged in Gaza, engaging in clashes with armed groups and claiming to restore order in areas vacated by Israeli troops. On Sunday, the Israeli military reported that militants fired at troops in Rafah, which is under Israeli control according to the ceasefire agreement. In retaliation, Israeli airstrikes reportedly killed 45 people in Gaza, raising the total death toll since the ceasefire began to 80, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.

Hamas has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire and stated that communication with its units in Rafah has been severed for months, asserting, "we are not responsible for any incidents occurring in those areas."

Looking ahead, the next steps in the ceasefire negotiations are expected to focus on disarming Hamas, further Israeli withdrawals from Gaza, and establishing a governance structure for the region. The U.S. plan includes creating an internationally supported authority to oversee these developments. In a recent interview, Kushner emphasized that the success of the ceasefire hinges on whether Israel and international partners can provide a viable alternative to Hamas. He stated, "If they are successful, Hamas will fail, and Gaza will not be a threat to Israel in the future."

Meanwhile, a Hamas delegation, led by chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, is in Cairo to discuss the ceasefire's implementation with mediators and other Palestinian factions. However, many Palestinians in Gaza remain skeptical about the ceasefire's durability following the recent flare-up. Funeral services were held on Monday for some of the victims of the Israeli strikes, with mourners gathering to pay their respects.

Hossam Ahmed, a displaced resident from Khan Younis, expressed concern, saying, "There should be concerns as long as the matters have yet to be settled." There are also ongoing worries about the volume of aid entering Gaza, which is a critical aspect of the ceasefire agreement. An Israeli security official confirmed that aid would continue to flow through the Kerem Shalom crossing and others, contingent on inspections.

The conflict has resulted in significant casualties, with Hamas-led militants killing approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, during their attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The ongoing Israel-Hamas war has claimed over 68,000 Palestinian lives, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its reports. Thousands more are reported missing, according to the Red Cross.