Israel Announces Expansion of Military Control to 70 Percent of Gaza
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on May 30, 2026, that the IDF would expand its area of control in the Gaza Strip from 53 percent to 70 percent. Hamas officials condemned the move as a 'dangerous escalation' and a violation of the October 2025 ceasefire agreement. International agencies warned that the reduction of space for civilians, many living in tents in southern Gaza, would exacerbate the existing health and sanitation crisis among the 2 million displaced residents.