Netanyahu Orders IDF to Expand Gaza Territorial Control to 70% — Day 961

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on May 29, 2026 (Day 961) that he had directed the IDF to extend Israeli military control over 70% of the Gaza Strip, up from approximately 60% currently held. 'We're in possession of 60% of the Gaza Strip's territory. My directive is to move to 70%,' Netanyahu said, according to Bloomberg. The announcement marked a significant escalation of Israeli territorial ambitions and drew immediate international concern. Germany expressed unease at the Israeli expansion plan, with Berlin citing both international law implications and the humanitarian consequences for Gaza's 2.1 million displaced civilians now confined to less than a third of the territory. The UN Secretary-General's office called on Israel to halt military operations that deepen displacement. The expansion directive comes as ceasefire Phase 2 talks remain completely deadlocked over Hamas disarmament demands and the humanitarian crisis worsens, with 470,000 facing IPC Phase 5 catastrophic hunger. At the UN Security Council, the US has continued to shield Israel from binding resolutions as the death toll surpassed 74,000.