Netanyahu orders Israeli army to seize ‘70% of Gaza Strip’, violating ceasefire deal

Speaking in West Bank settlement, Israeli PM, who is fighting for political survival before elections, says ‘we are squeezing Hamas’

• https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/may/28/middle-east-crisis-trump-us-iran-war-lebanon-israel-strikes-latest-news-live">Middle East crisis – live updates

Benjamin Netanyahu has said he has given orders to the Israeli army to seize control of 70% of the Gaza Strip in a move that threatens to torpedo an already fragile ceasefire and create catastrophic humanitarian conditions in the already devastated territory.

Under the https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/09/gaza-ceasefire-deal-first-phase-trump-peace-plan">US-brokered ceasefire in October, the Israeli army withdrew to a demarcation line which gave Israel direct control of 53% of the occupied territory.

Since then, Israeli forces have steadily https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/22/gaza-yellow-line-creeps-westwards-israel">advanced their positions westward into the Hamas-controlled half of the strip, and declared an ever-expanded no man’s land west of that, within which they claim the right to decide who can enter and open fire on anyone perceived as a threat.