(Photo: AP)
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's order to expand control over Gaza is seen as a violation of the ceasefire agreement brokered by the US between Israel and Hamas, which stipulated that Tel Aviv could only control a maximum of 53% of the territory.
According to the 2025 agreement, backed by a UN Security Council resolution, Israel was expected to gradually withdraw its troops from Gaza in exchange for Hamas disarming and relinquishing its control of the territory. However, in reality, sporadic clashes have continued, with Israeli forces steadily advancing into the strip.
"We currently control 60% of the territory in the Gaza Strip. You know, before we controlled 50%, now it's 60%," Prime Minister Netanyahu said at the Jordan Valley Conference in the West Bank on May 27. "My directive is to move towards controlling Gaza, first 70%. Let's start from there." Netanyahu added that this would be done in stages, but did not specify whether Israel ultimately intended to occupy all of Gaza.
Buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, May 29, 2026 (AP Photo)
The United Nations declared on May 30 that the entire Gaza Strip must belong to the Palestinians. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric reiterated the position demanding Israel withdraw from occupied areas beyond the boundaries stipulated in the previous ceasefire agreement.
In Gaza, Palestinians have expressed concern and outrage over the prospect of further shrinking living space. Meanwhile, Hamas has accused the plan of forced displacement and ethnic cleansing. Earlier this week, Hamas accused Israel of seeking to impose military control over Gaza by force, warning that such a move would undermine any prospects for genuine de-escalation.
Despite the ceasefire having been in effect for several months, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains particularly dire, with ongoing attacks, a lack of aid, and the risk of large-scale violence.
In March, representatives of the Hamas movement in Gaza met with the U.S.-led Peace Council – an international body established by U.S. President Donald Trump in January of this year as part of a plan to rebuild Gaza after the war. This initiative has since largely stalled amid the ongoing U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran.
Source: https://vtv.vn/thu-tuong-netanyahu-ra-lenh-mo-rong-kiem-soat-gaza-100260531075819005.htm
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