Israeli Forces Expand Gaza Hold Beyond 60%, Killing 2 Palestinians
Updated
Updated · Reuters · Jun 16
Israeli Forces Expand Gaza Hold Beyond 60%, Killing 2 Palestinians
3 articles · Updated · Reuters · Jun 16
Summary
Two Palestinians were killed in an Israeli strike near a residential building in Nuseirat refugee camp, while tanks pushed deeper into Gaza City's Al-Tuffah district and drove families to flee.
More than 60% of Gaza is already under Israeli military control, and witnesses said troops have widened the "Yellow Zone" in eastern Khan Younis, northern Rafah and now northern Gaza.
Nearly 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the October 2025 truce, according to Gaza health officials; Israel says four of its soldiers have been killed by militants in that period.
Cairo talks resumed as Trump's Gaza envoy Nickolay Mladenov arrived to pursue a second phase of the U.S.-backed plan, but Israel and Hamas remain deadlocked over disarmament and Israeli withdrawals.
About 2 million Gazans are now squeezed into a narrow coastal strip after repeated displacement, with many living in tents or damaged buildings as Israel presses toward a stated goal of controlling 70% of the enclave.
Why have international court rulings failed to stop the catastrophic humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza?
Is Israel's expanding 'Yellow Zone' a temporary security measure or the permanent partition of Gaza?
With a truce in name only, why does the peace plan hinge on disarmament before security is guaranteed?
Gaza and the Region in Crisis: $71.4 Billion in Damage, Expanding Israeli Control, and Diminishing Prospects for Peace (2026)
Overview
As of June 2026, Israel has expanded its military operations and territorial control in both Gaza and along the northern border with Lebanon. After initially announcing control over 53% of Gaza and redeploying to the 'yellow line' as part of a US-backed plan, Israeli forces have continued to push boundaries westward, increasing their presence beyond initial claims. At the same time, intensified clashes with Hezbollah have seen Israeli troops cross the Litani River and launch widespread strikes in Southern Lebanon. These actions have led to significant destruction and displacement, deepening the humanitarian crisis and complicating prospects for peace in the region.