Benjamin Netanyahu, the leader of Israel, revealed that he has instructed the military to take control of 70% of the Gaza Strip, while Hamas condemned this as a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement.
On 28 May 2026, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during an interview at a conference in the Israeli-occupied West Bank that he had ordered the military to control 70% of the Gaza Strip, claiming it was to deal with Hamas.
Netanyahu stated that Israel is "tightening" its control over Hamas. "We are now in 60% of the Gaza Strip, up from 50%, now moving to 60%."
"My order is to move gradually — step by step — the first step is 70%, starting from there," said the Israeli leader. While Netanyahu was speaking, the audience shouted demands for him to control the entire Gaza Strip.
Back in late April, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) provided a map to international aid groups showing that the military had already taken control of about 64% of Gaza.
This further occupation of Gaza territory will force about 2 million Palestinians to crowd into an increasingly shrinking coastal area that is being destroyed and devastated.
Since Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire agreement in October 2025, the Israeli military withdrew to a boundary called the “Yellow Line,” maintaining control over roughly 53% of the Gaza Strip.
However, on Tuesday, Hamas accused Israel of moving this boundary line, which they consider a clear undermining of the ceasefire agreement.
Hamas said this constitutes a serious violation and an attempt to use force to create a new situation aimed at entrenching military control over Gaza and undermining real prospects for stability or successful de-escalation efforts.
In principle, both Israel and Hamas are to abide by the ceasefire terms mediated by the US. However, progress stalled due to the outbreak of war between the US-Israel alliance and Iran, raising the risk of Gaza being permanently divided.
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Source:cnn