Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the military will expand its control in the Gaza Strip to 70 percent, while confirming intentions to eventually confront Hezbollah to maintain regional power.
Military Strategy and Expansion
On Thursday, May 28, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the Israeli military is currently building its strength to act in multiple directions. He noted that the military, having established control over 60 percent of the Gaza Strip, now intends to focus on a gradual takeover of 70 percent of the territory.
Netanyahu emphasized that the primary objective is to continue leveraging and increasing national military power. He explicitly identified Hezbollah as the next target in the ongoing regional conflict.
Leadership Losses Within Hamas
Hamas recently confirmed the death of Mohamed Odeh, the head of its military wing in Gaza, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Tuesday. The attack resulted in at least five deaths and 12 injuries, including Odeh’s wife and two children.
This follows the death of Odeh’s predecessor, Izz al-Din Haddad, who was killed 11 days earlier. Over the past two years, the Israeli military has eliminated nearly all high-ranking Hamas commanders within the Gaza Strip.
Conflict Statistics and Current Status
The conflict, which began in late 2023 following a Hamas attack that killed 1,200 people and resulted in 251 kidnappings, has led to a total death toll of over 72,800 Gazans. Since a formal truce went into effect on October 10, 2025, 906 people have been killed, and 472 Israeli soldiers have died in combat.
Approximately 1.1 million people are currently displaced, living in temporary refugee camps. The Israeli military controls more than half of the enclave, with the remaining area managed by Hamas, though near-daily strikes continue to occur.
Humanitarian Crisis and Infrastructure Collapse
Medical resources are severely strained, with 76 percent of Gaza’s medical institutions destroyed or damaged. Experts from the Polish Medical Mission report an imminent risk of epidemics, particularly among children, exacerbated by a complete lack of water and sanitation infrastructure.
Conditions for aid workers and civilians remain dire. Reports indicate that food shortages have led to thousands of people converging on aid distribution points, resulting in mass casualties. Displaced residents continue to struggle as the boundary lines for controlled zones are frequently shifted by the Israeli military.