Hamas accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday of a “blatant violation” of the October 2025 ceasefire agreement after he ordered the military to seize additional territory across the Gaza Strip.
“In a blatant violation of all agreements, as is their usual practice, Netanyahu announced expanding control over 70% of the Gaza Strip, while the killing and starvation continue,” said Hamas political bureau member Bassem Naim.
US Mediators Draw Criticism Over Silence
Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem also condemned what he called the “complete silence” of US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace and its high representative for Gaza, Nickolay Mladenov.
“Failing to condemn Israel’s expansionist policies and forced displacement plans raises serious questions about the extent of the sponsoring parties’ commitment to obliging Israel to adhere to its obligations” under the ceasefire deal, Qassem said.
Netanyahu, meanwhile, announced Thursday his intention to push Israeli military control from 60% of Gaza to 70%. He had previously stated that Israeli forces held 50% under the original ceasefire terms. “My directive is to move to… 70%,” he said, adding: “We’re squeezing them from all sides. We’ll deal with what’s left afterwards.”
Truce Transition Stalls for Months
The first phase of the ceasefire, which began in October 2025, secured the release of the final captives taken during Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attacks on Israel. In return, Israel freed a number of Palestinian detainees.
However, the transition to phase two, covering Hamas disarmament and a gradual Israeli military withdrawal, has stalled for months. Israeli forces were to pull back behind a so-called “yellow line” separating Hamas-held territory from Israeli-controlled zones.
Netanyahu first signalled the expanded push on 15 May, saying, “There were those who said: get out, get out. We did not get out. Today we control… how much? 60%. Tomorrow we shall see.”
Gaza continues to endure daily violence, with both sides accusing each other of breaching the truce in effect since 10 October.
