Israel launches strikes on Gaza over return of hostage remains

The Israeli army launched a barrage of attacks in Gaza as tensions with Hamas grew two weeks into a fragile ceasefire.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered "powerful strikes" on Gaza, saying the Hamas violated the ceasefire deal by handing over body parts of a hostage who was already recovered earlier in the war.

Another convoy bringing the remains of an Israeli hostage. Israel, though, said DNA tests revealed it was not of a new hostage but that of this man, 27-year-old Ofir Tzarfati.

The Israeli government said partial remains of Tzarfati had already been recovered earlier in the war, and his family must go through the pain of burying him again.

"Hamas signed a deal that would require them to hand over all of our 48 hostages, which was violated 15 days ago now," said Israeli government spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian. "Israel has not only waited patiently during this time, but gave Hamas an opportunity to retrieve and hand over all of our 28 deceased hostages in captivity."

Familiar scenes in the Gaza skyline as Israeli airstrikes cause more deaths and damage. Casualties are brought to the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in the south.

Dozens of Palestinians have reportedly been killed, in Khan Younis and in Gaza City in the north, including children. What kind of truce is this, screams this woman.

Earlier, Israel said its troops were shot at in the southern city of Rafah and returned fire. Hamas said it was not involved in any firefight and remain committed to the peace process.

They called the Israeli attacks a violation of the ceasefire deal but US President Donald Trump backed Israel's actions.

"They (Hamas) took out, they killed an Israeli soldier so the Israelis hit back and they should hit back," said Trump. "No nothing's going to jeopardise the ceasefire. You have to understand, Hamas is a very small part of peace in the Middle East."

The Palestinian group, meanwhile, continues their search for bodies of the remaining Israeli hostages.

Hamas has said it is struggling to locate the bodies amid the vast destruction in Gaza caused by two years of relentless Israeli airstrikes.

Over the weekend, Egypt deployed a team of experts and heavy equipment to help in the search.

An Arab official involved in negotiating the ceasefire said talks were underway with both sides trying to prevent the truce from collapsing.