Netanyahu Admits Israel Controls 60% of Gaza — Beyond October 2025 Ceasefire Yellow Line

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted to the cabinet around May 20, 2026 that Israel now controls approximately 60% of Gaza — up from roughly 53% when the October 2025 ceasefire took effect. 'In Gaza now, we already control not 50%, but 60%,' Netanyahu stated, confirming that IDF forces have pushed beyond the agreed 'Yellow Line' boundary. Netanyahu also reportedly told UN envoy Nikolay Mladenov that Israel would not withdraw from its current positions. Israeli security sources indicated that if Hamas does not disarm, the IDF will restart full-scale military operations to 'complete their mission.' Palestinian officials accused Israel of systematically violating the ceasefire framework; Hamas disarmament negotiations remain completely deadlocked. The admission confirmed what military analysts had observed: a creeping Israeli territorial expansion inside Gaza exploiting ambiguity in the ceasefire agreement.