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 percent more than in the five weeks prior when Israel was flying sorties over Iran.

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Mourners attend the funerals of two rescuers who were killed in Israeli airstrikes in Nabatieh in the southern city of Sidon. Israel intensified strikes on Lebanon with the health ministry reporting nine people killed in attacks targeting cars between Beirut and Sidon. PHOTO: AFP

Conflict monitor ACLED, which tracks Israeli attacks in Gaza, said in a monthly report for April that Israel had carried out 35 percent 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.