Chicago – May 28, 2026
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed the Israel Defense Forces to increase their territorial control over the Gaza Strip to 70 percent, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing war.
Speaking at a news conference in an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, Netanyahu outlined a “step-by-step” approach. “We were at 50, we moved to 60. My directive is to move to—let’s go step by step—first of all, 70,” he said, adding that forces are pressing Hamas “from all sides” before dealing with “the remnants”.
The Prime Minister confirmed Israel currently controls approximately 60 percent of Gaza, with IDF maps already showing control over roughly 64 percent—beyond the “Yellow Line” demarcated in the October US-brokered truce. The move intensifies pressure on over two million Palestinians, most confined to shrinking coastal areas amid catastrophic humanitarian conditions.
International pressure mounts over the war’s conduct as ceasefire negotiations remain uncertain. Netanyahu did not rule out a full takeover, though he emphasized the 70 percent target as the immediate objective.
