Netanyahu orders Israel to expand Gaza control to 70%expand Gaza control to 70%
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on May 28 that he had ordered the military to expand Israeli control over the Gaza Strip to 70 percent.
The move drew criticism from Hamas and came despite a fragile ceasefire that has been in place since October 2025, raising the risk of further escalation in Gaza.
Israeli Government
Netanyahu presented the order as a military step to expand control over Gaza territory. The announcement suggests Israel intends to press ahead despite the ceasefire framework in place since October 2025.
Hamas
Hamas described Netanyahu’s plan as a dangerous escalation. It said the move would worsen conditions for Palestinians in Gaza and deepen the conflict rather than ease it.
Residents in Gaza
People in Gaza voiced alarm at the prospect of broader Israeli control. Their reactions reflected fears that the territory’s already severe restrictions and insecurity could intensify further.
- Gaza borders both Israel and Egypt, which makes access tightly controlled.
- The territory is one of the most densely populated places in the world.
- Ceasefires in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have often been fragile and short-lived.
Israel-Lebanon War
Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a 60-day ceasefire that mandates Israeli troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon while the Lebanese army deploys across all border crossings and the south.
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