Israeli Strikes Kill 134 in Gaza, Including 14 Police

U.S. in Iran on April 8, 2026, redirecting its fire back on the Palestinian enclave. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, 120 Palestinians were killed in Gaza between April 8, 2026 and May 13, 2026.

Of those, eight were women and 13 were children. The 120 deaths represent a 20% increase compared to the five weeks prior. Conflict monitor ACLED recorded that Israel carried out 35% more attacks in Gaza in April 2026 than in March 2026.

Nasser Khdour, a researcher with ACLED, said that over roughly 30 separate incidents in April, Israel carried out attacks targeting Hamas, other militant groups, police personnel, police stations, and security checkpoints. Most of those attacks took place in areas under Hamas control. At least 14 police officers have been killed since April 14, 2026, according to health and police officials.

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. Four Israeli defence officials told Reuters that Hamas has been tightening its grip, rebuilding its forces and making weapons. An Israeli military official stated that the Gaza ceasefire allows Israel to act against imminent threats.

The official said the Israeli military has drawn up wider battle plans for a resumption of fighting in Gaza, though no such order had yet been given. The agreement reached in October 2025 halted major fighting in Gaza after two years of war. Israeli forces still occupy more than half of Gaza's territory, where more than 2 million people live in a tiny strip of territory along the Gaza coast, mainly in damaged structures or makeshift tents.

Some 850 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since the October 2025 ceasefire. Four Israeli soldiers were killed by militants during the same period. Palestinians inspect the site of a Friday Israeli air strike on houses at Shati refugee camp in Gaza City on May 9, 2026.

One resident described the persistent violence in personal terms.

“The war is still ongoing. It stopped in the announcement, but in reality and on the ground, the war has not stopped.”

“— Lafi Al-Najjar, 36, whose son was killed in an Israeli attack on April 28, 2026. Lafi Al-Najjar, who is blind, spoke from a tented camp in the ruins of Khan Younis, once Gaza's second-largest city. His family has been living there since the latest round of strikes. Al-Monitor reported that the increase in Israeli strikes on Gaza is a further sign of stalled progress under U.S. 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. Steps have faltered to reach a permanent settlement that would withdraw Israeli troops, disarm the militants and allow the ruined enclave to be rebuilt. Hamas does not disclose figures for casualties among its fighters.”