The Israeli military announced on Sunday that it would resume enforcing a ceasefire in Gaza after airstrikes by Hamas, which it said were "blatant violations" of the agreement.

The airstrikes in southern Gaza came after it said "terrorists fired anti-tank missiles and bullets" at its troops in Rafah, killing two soldiers.

Hamas has denied any knowledge of the clashes in Israeli-controlled areas.

Israel said it had struck Hamas targets in Gaza on Sunday night, and hospital sources in Gaza said 44 people had been killed.

Hamas said it remained committed to the ceasefire, saying Israel was violating it and warned that such attacks would "push the situation to a complete collapse."

The Israel Defense Forces announced Sunday night that they had "resumed to respect the ceasefire," and that they would honor the agreement and "respond severely to any violation."

The statement did not directly say whether it was reversing a previous decision to halt aid to Gaza.

The first phase of the US-brokered ceasefire, which began ten days ago, was able to bring an immediate end to the war.