Israel increases its strikes in the Gaza Strip in the weeks after pausing joint bombing with the United States over Iran, with multiple outlets citing Gaza health officials and Israeli military assessments. Reuters reports that in the roughly five weeks after the Iran-related halt on April 8, Gaza’s Health Ministry says 120 Palestinians are killed, including eight women and 13 children. The figure is described as about 20% higher than the preceding five-week period, when Israel carried out sorties over Iran rather than focusing on Gaza. Several outlets also report that Israel’s military believes Hamas is rearming and tightening its grip in the enclave, a justification referenced for the shift in targeting. France 24 adds that additional fatalities occur in recent strikes, including at least five Palestinians killed in May 17 attacks, and notes that Gaza has seen near-daily Israeli fire since an earlier ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect in October. CBC and Cyprus Mail largely echo the same claims about the escalation timing, the death toll figures, and Israel’s assessment of Hamas rearmament.