Sami Shaban says his relatives were among 11 killed when Israeli tank fire struck their minibus a week after the U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect.

By Alexander Cornwell and Nidal al-Mughrabi KIRYAT GAT, Israel (Reuters) -The U.S. increased pressure on Hamas on Tuesday to disarm in the next phase of an already fragile Gaza ceasefire as President Donald Trump pushed to cement an end to the devastating conflict.

Hamas and Fatah, the Palestinian political party that controls the Palestinian Authority (PA), have held talks in Egypt about next steps for the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The meeting was part of broader talks to build consensus about the ceasefire among various Palestinian factions.

Israel said Sunday it responded after "terrorists" attacked troops operating in the Rafah area with gunfire and an anti-tank missile. Hamas said it was unaware of the clashes.

Israel said it carried out air strikes on Gaza Oct. 19 after its troops were attacked, sending the ceasefire into uncertainty.

ANKARA (Reuters) -Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said the United States and others must do more to push Israel to stop violating the Gaza ceasefire agreement, including the possible use of sanctions or halting arms sales.

Hamas has deployed hundreds of police and clashed with armed groups in Gaza in what the militant group says is an attempt to restore law and order in areas where Israeli troops have withdrawn for the U.

Trump said on Monday that the US would destroy Hamas if the militant group didn’t continue to honor the ceasefire with Israel.

In a visit to Israel, US vice-president JD Vance said on Tuesday that the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire plan was “going better than expected,” but warned the Palestinian militant group it would be obliterated if it did not co-operate.

Numerous senior U. S. officials continue to descend on Israel to keep tabs on the fragile ceasefire between Hamas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.