The escalation comes amid growing concerns that the ceasefire, brokered with heavy international involvement, may be on the brink of collapse.

A round of violence on Sunday was short-lived, but analysts expect more tensions between Israel and Palestinian militants that will put the truce under strain.

Israeli media have reported that the IDF has launched multiple attacks in the southern Gazan city of Rafah after reports of armed skirmishes between Hamas fighters and Israeli soldiers.View on euronew

Israel had threatened to keep Rafah shut and reduce aid supplies because Hamas was returning bodies too slowly.

The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt will remain closed indefinitely, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Saturday, linking its reopening to Hamas handing over the bodies of deceased