Netanyahu Orders Israeli Army to Control 70% of Gaza
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- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the Israeli army to seize 70% of Gaza, up from the 60% it currently controls.
- Israel's defense minister confirmed the government's intention to move large numbers of Palestinians out of Gaza “at the right time and in the right manner.”
- The Knesset dissolved itself on May 20, creating the possibility of an early election in September.
- The 20‑point Gaza peace plan called for a staged withdrawal and encouraged residents to stay, but Israel's expanded control violates it.
- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told a congressional hearing the peace plan “doesn’t call for” expanded military control of the strip.
- The International Court of Justice issued a 2024 advisory opinion stating Israel's presence in occupied Palestinian territories breaches self‑determination and the prohibition against conquest.
- The UN General Assembly set a deadline of September 14, 2025 for Israel's full withdrawal, which Israel ignored.
Why it matters: The expansion to 70% squeezes the 2.1 million Palestinians into an even tighter enclave, breaching the Trump‑mediated 20‑point peace plan and the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion. Israel consolidates military dominance, while the humanitarian situation deteriorates and diplomatic pressure mounts.
