May 15, 2026 | 06:48 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – The Israeli military has expanded its control over the Gaza Strip to roughly 64 percent of the territory, according to reports from Israeli and regional media, marking a significant territorial shift amid a fragile ceasefire.The expansion follows the establishment of a new military boundary known as the “Orange Line,” which replaces the previously designated “Yellow Line” as the latest de facto border of areas controlled by Israel in Gaza Strip.According to The New Arab, citing Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, the move came after the Israeli military received approval from the “Board of Peace,” a body reportedly established by U.S. President Donald Trump to oversee implementation of the Gaza ceasefire.Israel Hayom quoted an unnamed diplomat as saying the territorial expansion was carried out after Hamas was deemed to have violated the ceasefire agreement and refused to disarm. The diplomat added that additional measures could follow if Hamas continues to breach the deal.The newly controlled area lies beyond the former Yellow Line and reportedly covers around 34 square kilometers, or about 11 percent of Gaza’s territory. The expansion increases the total area under Israeli control to approximately 64 percent of the enclave.Expanded Territorial ControlAccording to Middle East Monitor, the Yellow Line was established under the ceasefire agreement that took effect on Oct. 10, 2025. It separated eastern Gaza, which was under Israeli military control, from western areas still accessible to Palestinian civilians. At the time, Israeli-controlled territory accounted for about 53 percent of Gaza.Senior Hamas official Bassem Naim previously accused Israel of using the ceasefire to expand its military occupation in Gaza. He said Israeli forces had pushed the boundary farther west, adding roughly 8 to 9 percent more land under military control.Israel Hayom also reported an increase in building demolitions in the newly occupied areas.Allegations of Ceasefire ViolationsDespite the ceasefire, Israeli strikes have continued almost daily, with more than 850 people reportedly killed in Gaza since the truce came into effect. Hamas, meanwhile, is said to have halted active military operations against Israel inside Gaza but continues to reject disarmament demands until a Palestinian state is established.Nickolay Mladenov, an envoy for the Board of Peace, visited the Middle East amid efforts to advance Trump’s proposed post-war Gaza peace plan.Speaking at a press conference in Jerusalem on Wednesday, Mladenov said the ceasefire remained in place despite repeated violations."We have a ceasefire. It is holding. It is not perfect. It is far from perfect. There are violations every day, and some of them are very serious," Mladenov said.The envoy added that Hamas could have a role in Trump's plan for post-war Gaza if it disarmed."We are not asking Hamas to disappear as a political movement," he said.Read: Israel Signs $34 Million Deal to Develop Fighter JetClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
