Netanyahu Orders IDF to Seize 70% of Gaza, Shattering Ceasefire Terms

Cairo Negotiations Face a New Crisis

The directive landed just as Egyptian mediators were racing to salvage the stalled ceasefire. A Hamas delegation led by Khalil Al-Hayya, the group’s chief in Gaza, arrived in Cairo on June 5 for a new round of talks scheduled to last several days . The delegation included senior officials Zaher Jabarin, Hossam Badran, and Ghazi Hamad .

The talks were intended to advance the ceasefire's implementation, focusing on the transition to the critical second phase, which covers Hamas's disarmament and a full Israeli withdrawal . Cairo has already hosted at least five rounds of such discussions in under two months, reflecting the urgency of the situation .

Netanyahu’s expansionism has directly undermined these efforts. Hamas explicitly noted that the Cairo meetings followed Israel's "threat to take control of 70 percent of the Gaza Strip, in defiance of ceasefire" . The expansion directive, widely reported as "completely shreds the original October 2025 agreement," significantly complicates Egypt's ability to bridge the gap between the two sides . The conflict has resulted in a continuously mounting death toll, with one assessment noting that more than 700 Palestinians had been killed since the ceasefire came into effect .

International Criticism Led by Germany

The international response was swift, with Germany’s government among the most prominent voices. On May 29 and 30, Berlin expressed formal "concern" over the expansion plans, stating they would have a direct, negative impact on the humanitarian situation .

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Kathrin Deschauer told journalists, “We view these announcements and the reports about them with concern, and if this were to happen, it would complicate our efforts—particularly the provision of further vital humanitarian aid, especially for the population" . Deschauer also reiterated that Germany opposes any permanent division of the Palestinian territory . This criticism marked another chapter in Germany’s increasingly vocal stance on the conflict, following earlier condemnations from Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who had called previous military strategies “completely wrong” and the denial of aid “unacceptable” .

The 70% directive is not just a violation of a diplomatic agreement; it is a calculated move that has shifted the ground beneath a critical peace process. As Cairo’s mediators work to prevent a total collapse of the truce, they now face the added challenge of addressing a new territorial reality unilaterally imposed by Israel.