Israeli-backed militias step up operations against Hamas in Gaza: Guardian

Ahram Online , Friday 13 Mar 2026

Israel-backed militias have launched repeated raids, clandestine assassinations, and abduction operations deep inside parts of Gaza controlled by Hamas in recent months, with new operations launched recently despite the outbreak of conflict with Iran.

Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike on a tent camp sheltering displaced people in Gaz
Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike on a tent camp sheltering displaced people in Gaza City. AFP

 

The militia, which are all based in eastern parts of Gaza that are under Israeli occupation after a ceasefire came into effect in October, have received significant logistic support from Israel since last year, but appear to have increased their firepower, allowing new and more aggressive attacks in recent weeks.

Israeli strikes in Gaza, which had averaged around 10 a day across the devastated territory over the last five months, have continued even as Israeli jets carry out bombing campaigns in Iran and Lebanon.

In recent months, the Israeli occupation army has breached the terms of the ceasefire with Hamas, signed in October 2025, on hundreds of occasions, with Israeli strikes killing and wounding hundreds of Palestinians.

Since the start of the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza on 7 October 2023, at least 72,136 Palestinians have been confirmed killed, and 171,839 Palestinians have been reported injured, mostly women and children, since the start of the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023.

Since the October 2025 ceasefire, medical sources have documented approximately 651 fatalities and over 1,741 injuries.

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