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 claims Hamas is tightening its 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% 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% 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 war is still ongoing,” said Lafi ⁠Al Najjar, 36, a blind Palestinian, one of whose sons was killed on April 28 in an Israeli attack.

“It stopped in the announcement, but in reality and on ​the ground, the war has not stopped,” said Najjar, whose family have been living in a tented camp in the ruins of Khan Younis, once Gaza’s second-largest ​city.

The Israeli military did not immediately provide comments on the reasons for its stepped-up strikes in Gaza.

But four Israeli defence officials have told Reuters that the military had told the radical Israeli 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 alleged 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 militant 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 has de facto control.

Some 850 Palestinians have ​been killed in Israeli strikes since the ​October ceasefire.

Since the pause in the war in Iran, several of Israel’s strikes in Gaza ​have targeted positions held by the police force.

At least 14 police officers have been killed since April ​14, health and police ⁠officials said.