The U.S. has sent two top advisers and its vice-president to the Middle East as it scrambles to hold together an increasingly fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

A recent escalation in violence has threatened the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, with reports of Israeli airstrikes in Gaza resulting in civilian casualties and the deaths of two Israeli soldiers. Both sides have accused each other of breaching the ceasefire, with Israel citing attacks by armed militants and Hamas attributing the violence to rogue fighters.

In response to the deteriorating situation, the United States has sent its vice president and top negotiators to the region for urgent talks aimed at preserving the agreement. The ceasefire has been further strained by disputes over the return of hostages' bodies and disagreements on the implementation of ceasefire principles.

U.S. sends team to reinforce Middle East ceasefire

Under the ceasefire, this wasn't supposed to happen. Dozens of Palestinians died over the weekend according to Gaza's health ministry as calm crumbled. Israeli airstrikes hit tents for the displaced in central Gaza and an apartment building farther north killing four members of Abu Sayyel Muqtad's family. There was no warning, he says. This is a slaughter, not a war. Shooting started when armed militants approached Israeli soldiers, says Israel triggering this. Two soldiers were also killed. Hamas says the militants were rogue fighters. The IDF will respond with force to any violation that endangers the security of our soldiers and its citizens. Israel says it answered with local strikes to eliminate the threat to its troops but several targets were far from there outside the so-called yellow line Israeli forces are meant to hold. It's now laying out yellow blocks to better mark that line. Hamas and Israel accuse each other of violating the ceasefire. I think it's important that both sides comply not only with the lettering of principles which are very vague but also with the spirit of the principles and I think we've seen some real deviations from that. A major complaint? Israel says Hamas is being slow to return the bodies of dead hostages. Another coffin was handed over Monday. The White House is now scrambling to keep the deal from unraveling sending in the U.S. vice president as well as two of its top negotiators for urgent talks. We made a deal with Hamas that you know they're going to be very good they're going to behave and if they're not we're going to go and eradicate them. Trump insists the deal lives on. Sasha Petrusik, CBC News, Toronto.

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