Israel steps up attacks on Gaza since Iran truce, as military says Hamas rearming

Israel has escalated its attacks in Gaza in the five weeks since halting its joint bombing with the US in Iran, redirecting its fire back on the ruined Palestinian enclave where the military believes Hamas fighters are tightening their grip.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, 120 Palestinians, including eight women and 13 children, were killed in Gaza since the Iran war was paused on April 8 - 20 per cent more than in the five weeks prior when Israel was flying sorties over Iran.

Conflict monitor ACLED, which tracks Israeli attacks in Gaza, said in a monthly report for April that Israel had carried out 35 per cent more attacks last month than in March.

The increase in Israeli strikes on Gaza is a further sign of stalled progress under US President Donald Trump's plan to halt the war there and begin reconstruction.

The Israeli military did not immediately provide comment on the reasons for its stepped-up strikes in Gaza. But four Israeli defence officials have told Reuters that the military had warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government in recent weeks that Hamas has been tightening its grip, rebuilding its forces and making weapons.

Another Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Gaza ceasefire allows for Israel to act against imminent threats. The official said the military was prepared for any scenario, including having drawn up wider battle plans for a resumption of fighting in Gaza, though no such order had yet been given.

FALTERING STEPS TOWARDS PEACE

The agreement reached last October halted major fighting in Gaza after two years of war between Israel and Hamas. But steps have faltered to reach a permanent settlement that would withdraw Israeli troops, disarm the fighters and allow the ruined enclave to be rebuilt.

Israeli forces still occupy more than half of Gaza's territory, where they have demolished most remaining buildings and ordered all residents out.

More than 2 million people now live in a tiny strip of territory along the coast, mainly in damaged structures or makeshift tents, where Hamas fighters have de facto control.

Some 850 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since the October ceasefire, according to figures that do not distinguish between combatants and civilians. Four Israeli soldiers were killed by fighters during the same period. Hamas does not disclose figures for casualties among its fighters.

Since the pause in the war in Iran, several of Israel's strikes in Gaza have targeted positions held by the Hamas-run police force. At least 14 police officers have been killed since April 14, health and police officials said.

Nasser Khdour, a researcher with ACLED, said that over roughly 30 separate incidents in April, Israel carried out attacks targeting Hamas, other terror groups, police personnel and police stations, and security checkpoints.

Most of those attacks took place in areas under Hamas control, "while shelling, drone strikes, and gunfire continued to take place near the (armistice line), targeting (terrorists) and civilians, including women and children, approaching soldiers," Khdour said.

Since Israel joined the US in bombing Iran in March, its military has operated at a relentless pace, also launching a ground invasion and air campaign in Lebanon against Hezbollah. Fighting there has slowed but not halted under a separate US-brokered ceasefire.