The prime minister ordered the expansion of the military occupation in the Palestinian enclave; Israeli army studies control of up to 75% of the territory
The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, determined this Thursday (May 28, 2026) that the Israel Defense Forces expand control to 70% of the territory of the Gaza Strip. The measure contradicts the terms since October 10, 2025, which limited the Israeli presence to 53% of Palestinian territory.
Netanyahu announced the decision during the Ein Prat Leadership Academy conference. “Right now, we fully control 60% of the territory of the Gaza Strip, and my guideline is to reach 70%”he stated. After a participant advocated for Israel to occupy “100%” from Gaza, the prime minister replied: “We are advancing in stages. First 70%, we will start there.”
MIRA MILITARY PLANE 75%
The new directive expands a military strategy already discussed by the Israeli Armed Forces since 2025. The Army stated on Sunday (May 25, 2026) that it planned to cover the territory of Gaza in 2 months, displacing the Palestinian population to just 25% of the territory. The information is from the newspaper.
The Israeli military claims that the priority of the war is no longer just eliminating members of Hamas and has now included the territorial occupation and destruction of the Palestinian group’s infrastructure.
According to estimates by the Defense Forces, around 700,000 Palestinians would be concentrated in Mawasi, between 300,000 and 350,000 in central Gaza and approximately 1 million in Gaza City. The expansion of Israeli rule would further reduce the space available for the Palestinian population, estimated at 2.3 million people.
EXPANSION VIOLA Ceasefire
Netanyahu stated on May 15 that Israel already occupies 60% of the territory of Gaza. The percentage exceeds the limit defined in the agreement mediated by the United States by 7 percentage points. The new goal further expands the Israeli military presence in the enclave.
Maps released by Israel indicate that the so-called “yellow line”established in the armistice, advanced to larger areas than initially planned. Observers say the Israeli Army has moved concrete barriers to expand the zone under military control.
Israeli authorities classify the occupied areas in Gaza, Syria and Lebanon as “buffer zones”, aimed at preventing further attacks, following the Hamas offensive on October 7, 2023, which triggered the war.
