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

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