“The Times of Israel” quoted Israel's Central Command Commander Avi Bulut on the 16th as saying that the Israeli army currently controls more than 60% of the area in the Gaza Strip. Blut said at a command handover ceremony held near the border with Gaza on the same day that more than 60% of the area in the Gaza Strip is already under Israeli control. The Israeli military has also established a security zone near the Gaza border, staffed by two divisions. Similar to the situation where the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement attacked Israel across the border on October 7, 2023, “it is impossible to happen again.” Blut said that Hamas still retains some military capability and controls other parts of the Gaza Strip, and its goal of “destroying Israel” has not changed. According to the first phase of the cease-fire agreement in Gaza, which came into effect in October 2025, Israel controls 53% of the area of the Gaza Strip. In May of this year, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said that the Israeli army controls about 60% of the area of the Gaza Strip, and he has ordered that the scope of control be extended to about 70%. Hamas accuses Israel of blatantly violating the cease-fire agreement.

“The Times of Israel” quoted Israel's Central Command Commander Avi Bulut on the 16th as saying that the Israeli army currently controls more than 60% of the area in the Gaza Strip. Blut said at a command handover ceremony held near the border with Gaza on the same day that more than 60% of the area in the Gaza Strip is already under Israeli control. The Israeli military has also established a security zone near the Gaza border, staffed by two divisions. Similar to the situation where the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement attacked Israel across the border on October 7, 2023, “it is impossible to happen again.” Blut said that Hamas still retains some military capability and controls other parts of the Gaza Strip, and its goal of “destroying Israel” has not changed. According to the first phase of the cease-fire agreement in Gaza, which came into effect in October 2025, Israel controls 53% of the area of the Gaza Strip. In May of this year, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said that the Israeli army controls about 60% of the area of the Gaza Strip, and he has ordered that the scope of control be extended to about 70%. Hamas accuses Israel of blatantly violating the cease-fire agreement.