Egypt's El-Sisi urges Israel to abandon plan to control 70% of Gaza at G7 summit

Jun 16, 2026

At the G7 summit, Egyptian President el-Sisi urged Israel to abandon its plan to control 70% of Gaza, a move violating a fragile ceasefire. Israeli PM Netanyahu confirmed troops already hold 60% of the enclave, up from the 50% agreed upon. The ceasefire's second phase, involving Hamas's disarmament, is stalled, while Israeli military advances continue to displace Gaza's 2 million residents.

Israeli territorial expansion in Gaza

▪Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to expand its control in Gaza beyond the terms of an October ceasefire.
▪Israel's plan is to expand its control from just over 50% of the Gaza Strip, as per a ceasefire deal, to 70%.
▪Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Israeli troops had already expanded control from 50% to around 60% of the enclave.
▪On the ground, Israeli forces have expanded the "Yellow Zone" in eastern Khan Younis and northern Rafah.

El-Sisi G7 summit intervention

▪President el-Sisi stated that with Israel's expansion, "Only 30% of the Strip is effectively left for the Palestinian people."
▪President el-Sisi called for a settlement based on a two-state solution and the implementation of US President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan.
▪At a G7 summit in Evian, France, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi urged Israel to abandon its plan to control 70% of Gaza.

Ceasefire implementation stalemate

▪A fragile ceasefire that began in October after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack has stalled in its second phase.
▪A diplomatic source indicated mediators have not publicly condemned Israel's expansion due to frustration with Hamas's lack of commitment to its obligations.
▪The stalled second phase of the ceasefire was supposed to involve Hamas's disarmament and a gradual withdrawal of the Israeli army.

Hamas disarmament negotiations

▪Hamas links its full disarmament to the launch of a political process toward a Palestinian state.
▪Egypt is expected to play a role in a potential International Stabilization Force in Gaza and is key to disarmament talks.
▪Israel insists that Hamas must disarm, cede power, and have no future role in governing Gaza.
▪Disagreement over the disarmament of Hamas is the main obstacle in negotiations for a full agreement to end the Gaza conflict.

Palestinian displacement crisis

▪Recent Israeli military advances in areas like the Al-Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza City have caused further displacement of families.
▪Nearly the entire Gazan population of 2 million people has been displaced, with most living in a small coastal area.

Civilian casualties in Gaza

▪The Israeli military estimates that two to three civilians have been killed for every Hamas operative during the war.
▪According to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, nearly 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since October.
▪An Israeli strike in the Nuseirat refugee camp on June 16, 2026, killed two Palestinian brothers.