Nasser Khdour on Israel’s escalation in Gaza amid Hamas’ refusal to disarm

Nasser Khdour, Middle East Assistant Research Manager at ACLED, said: 

April was the deadliest month in Gaza since January, with more than 140 reported fatalities related to Israeli violence. Israeli forces intensified their attacks, and the number of violent events increased by 35% compared with March. In around 30 incidents, Israel targeted Hamas militants, members of other armed groups, police officers and stations, and security checkpoints. Israeli forces carried out targeted assassinations, including the killing of the head of Hamas’ military intelligence, who was reportedly involved in planning the 7 October attack, as well as other members of Hamas’ elite forces. Most of the attacks took place west of the Yellow Line — which separates the Israel-controlled area from the Hamas-controlled areas west of Gaza — while shelling, drone strikes, and gunfire continued to take place near the Yellow Line, targeting militants and civilians, including women and children, approaching soldiers. Since the ceasefire began in October 2025, Israel has gradually expanded the Yellow Line westward. It now controls about 58% of Gaza, compared with 53% under the original ceasefire map.¹ 

In mid-April, Hamas rejected the Board of Peace disarmament plan which would have required it to hand over its heavy weapons and maps of its tunnel network within three months². Hamas later submitted a counter-offer to the Board of Peace linking disarmament to guarantees for establishing a sovereign Palestinian state, a halt to Israel’s westward expansion in the Strip, and an end to attacks on its fighters with a complete ceasefire³. In turn, Israel informed the Board of Peace that it rejected withdrawing from the Yellow Line and that its cabinet was considering the possibility of resuming operations in the Strip⁴.