Israeli forces claim control over approximately 70% [1] of the Gaza Strip territory as air raids continue this week.
The persistence of military operations raises critical questions about the validity of the current peace agreement. If the cease-fire is no longer functional, the region faces a return to full-scale conflict and increased instability.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "We have control over about 70% [1] of Gaza's area."
This territorial claim comes despite a cease-fire agreement that entered into force in October 2025 [1]. The ongoing Israeli military activity, including continued air raids, has led observers to question whether the agreement remains in effect.
However, other officials have maintained that the peace process is still active. President Donald Trump said on May 7, "The cease-fire is still in effect" [2].
The contradiction between the reported military gains and the diplomatic assertions creates a volatile environment in the Gaza Strip. While the U.S. and other international actors have monitored the situation, the gap between the territorial reality on the ground and the official status of the truce remains wide.
Israeli forces continue to conduct operations that involve civilian killings and breaches of the established peace terms. These actions contrast with the stated goals of the October 2025 agreement, which was intended to end the hostilities between Israel and Hamas militants [1].
“"We have control over about 70% of Gaza's area,"”
The disparity between Prime Minister Netanyahu's claims of territorial control and President Trump's assertion that the cease-fire holds suggests a breakdown in the shared understanding of the 2025 agreement. If Israel continues to expand its footprint in Gaza while maintaining the diplomatic cover of a truce, the agreement may serve as a tactical pause rather than a sustainable peace, increasing the likelihood of a formal collapse of the deal.
