According to reports from the Financial Times and The Israeli Times, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on May 28 that he had ordered the Israeli military to control 70% of the territory in the Gaza Strip. The report indicates that this move violates the first-phase ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which was set to take effect in 2025.
According to reports, a video aired by Israel Channel 12 showed Netanyahu saying, At present, we have full control over 60% of the territory in the Gaza Strip. My goal is to achieve 70% control.
When a listener shouted that Israel should occupy 100% of the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu did not deny that this might be the ultimate goal. Instead, he responded, We are proceeding in order.
First, 70%. We will start from here, said Netanyahu.
Reports indicate that, according to the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, Israeli forces retreated to what is called the yellow line (the withdrawal line), thereby controlling 53% of the Gaza Strips territory. Earlier in 2026, Israel released what it called a new map of Gaza, indicating that it had taken control of another 10% of the Gaza Strips territory.
On May 17th, Netanyahu publicly admitted that he had control over 60% of the territory in the Gaza Strip.
The Gaza health department stated that since the ceasefire agreement took effect in 2025, repeated attacks by Israeli forces have resulted in the death of over 900 people. Israel said that during the same period, four Israeli soldiers were killed by armed militants.
Israeli officials said that they would maintain a buffer zone within the Gaza Strip. However, members of Netanyahus cabinet openly stated that they wanted to remove Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Defense Minister Katz said on May 27 that Israel will resume its voluntary immigration program targeting the Gaza Strip.
