Trump is said to have dispatched his deputy and envoys to Israel to keep up the momentum and push for the start of talks on the second critical phase of his 20-point Gaza peace plan.

It would involve setting up an interim government in the Palestinian territory, deploying an international stabilisation force, the withdrawal of Israeli troops, and disarmament of Hamas.

Israel has previously said it would not join such talks until Hamas has returned all the deceased hostages it has been holding.

Vance, Witkoff and Kushner are also attempting to ensure the ceasefire deal, which is based on the first phase of the peace plan, does not collapse first.

The New York Times cited US officials as saying they were concerned that Israel’s prime minister might “vacate” the deal, external and resume an all-out assault against Hamas.

Netanyahu told the Israeli parliament on Monday that he would discuss “security challenges” and “political opportunities” with Vance during his visit.

He also said Israeli forces had dropped 153 tonnes of bombs on Gaza in response to what he called a “blatant” breach of the ceasefire by Hamas on Sunday.

“One of our hands holds a weapon, the other hand is stretched out for peace,” he said. “You make peace with the strong, not the weak. Today Israel is stronger than ever before.”

The Israeli military blamed Hamas for an anti-tank missile attack on Sunday that killed two Israeli soldiers in southern Gaza and then carried out dozens of strikes across the territory which hospitals said killed at least 45 Palestinians.

Afterwards, the Israeli military said it was resuming enforcement of the ceasefire, while Hamas said it remained committed to the agreement.

However, four Palestinians were reportedly killed by Israeli fire east of Gaza City on Monday. The Israeli military said its troops fired towards ” terrorists” who crossed the so-called “Yellow Line”, which demarcates the area still occupied by Israeli forces.

Later, Trump told reporters at the White House: “We made a deal with Hamas that they’re going to be very good. They’re going to behave. They’re going to be nice.”

“If they’re not, we’re going to go and we’re going to eradicate them, if we have to. They’ll be eradicated, and they know that,” he added.