Israeli Strikes Kill 6 in Gaza as Netanyahu Orders Control Zone Expanded to 70%
Updated
Updated · Reuters · Jun 8
Israeli Strikes Kill 6 in Gaza as Netanyahu Orders Control Zone Expanded to 70%
1 articles · Updated · Reuters · Jun 8
Summary
Six Palestinians, including an 8-year-old boy, were killed in strikes on Khan Younis, Jabalia and near Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, Gaza health officials and medics said.
Netanyahu said he had ordered the military to expand its hold to 70% of Gaza, while residents reported troops moving markers and concrete blocks to widen the Israeli-controlled "Yellow Zone."
More than 60% of Gaza is already under Israeli troop control, and most of the enclave's 2 million people are now confined to a narrow coastal strip in tents or damaged buildings.
In Cairo, mediators were still trying to rescue the fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire, but Hamas said Israel had refused commitments on ending attacks, restoring October truce lines and allowing 600 aid trucks a day.
The truce has not stopped violence: Gaza health officials say Israeli strikes have killed more than 950 people since it began, while Israel says four soldiers were killed by militants.
While a truce is discussed, is Israel's 'Yellow Zone' expansion a permanent annexation of Gaza?
With court orders ignored and aid blocked, has the international system to protect civilians failed?
Will the Trump-led 'New Gaza' plan rebuild for Palestinians or pave the way for Israeli recolonization?
Ceasefire in Peril: Israeli Expansion and the Worsening Humanitarian Disaster in Gaza, June 2026
Overview
The report highlights a sharp escalation in the Gaza conflict as of June 8, 2026, driven by intensified Israeli military operations under Prime Minister Netanyahu’s directive. Israel has increased attacks targeting senior Hamas leaders linked to the 2023 assaults, resulting in high-profile killings and a surge in violence. Both sides accuse each other of breaching the ceasefire, with Israeli strikes causing over 950 Palestinian deaths since the truce began. This cycle of targeted operations and mutual blame underscores the fragile nature of the ceasefire and the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.