Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 05:52pm on 28 May 2026,Thursday International
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he has directed the Israeli military to take control of 70 percent of the Gaza Strip, marking a significant escalation despite the ceasefire in effect since October. Speaking at a conference in an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank, Netanyahu stated that Israeli forces currently control around 60 percent of Gaza, up from 50 percent earlier. Israel says its operations aim to dismantle Hamas infrastructure and weaken the group’s capabilities. According to Gaza’s health ministry, over 900 people have been killed in Israeli strikes since the ceasefire began. Israel also claimed it killed Mohammed Odeh, the latest head of Hamas’s armed wing, while Defence Minister Israel Katz reiterated plans to dismantle Hamas rule in Gaza.
