Israeli Strikes in Gaza Increase 35% in April, Palestinian Health Ministry Reports 120 Killed

At least 120 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since the US-Israel war on Iran paused on April 8, 2026, Gaza’s Health Ministry said. Eight of the dead were women and 13 were children. The deaths represent a 20 percent increase compared with the five weeks prior.

Conflict monitor ACLED released a report on Wednesday stating that Israel carried out 35 percent more attacks in Gaza in April than in March. The increase came after Israel joined the US in bombing Iran in March 2026 and launched a ground invasion and air campaign in Lebanon. Fighting has continued in southern Lebanon despite a US-brokered ceasefire that took effect last month.

“The war is still ongoing,” Lafi al-Najjar told Reuters. ” Lafi al-Najjar, a blind Palestinian living with his family in a shelter in the ruins of Khan Younis, said one of his sons was killed in an Israeli attack on April 28. A ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza has been in place since October.

The ceasefire was mediated by the US and Qatar. Israeli forces have not withdrawn from Gaza. Israel continues to impose severe restrictions on aid supplies to Gaza and has prevented efforts to rebuild Gaza.

Israeli forces occupy more than half of Gaza’s territory. More than two million people live in a tiny strip of territory along the Gaza coast, where Hamas fighters have de facto control. About 850 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire took effect in October.

At least four Israeli soldiers were killed by Palestinian armed groups during the same period. The Israeli military did not immediately provide comments on the reasons for its increasing strikes. Al Jazeera reported that the escalation followed the pause in the US-Israel war on Iran on April 8, 2026.

The territory has seen Israeli forces demolish many remaining buildings and order residents out of occupied areas. Most of the population now lives in damaged structures or makeshift tents.