Israeli forces have expanded their occupation of the Gaza Strip to cover more than 67 percent of the territory, significantly exceeding the boundaries established in the October 2025 ceasefire agreement. According to Asharq Al-Awsat, this expansion is driven by intensified operations involving Israeli-backed armed groups, which have conducted abductions and forced displacements under the cover of Israeli military fire. The report indicates that these actions have effectively eroded the authority of Hamas and other Palestinian factions in areas that were previously designated as under their control.
The ceasefire agreement, brokered under a plan by US President Donald Trump, introduced a demarcation line known as the "Yellow Line" to separate Israeli-occupied zones from areas held by Hamas. Initially estimated to encompass more than 60 percent of the strip, the occupied area has since grown. Asharq Al-Awsat cited multiple field sources who stated that Israeli forces now hold the entire city of Rafah, most of Khan Younis, and significant portions of Gaza City, including the eastern neighborhoods of Tuffah, Shujaiya, and Zeitoun. In the north, Israeli troops occupy Beit Hanoun and parts of Jabalia refugee camp.
The report details specific incidents illustrating this shift in control. Members of armed groups infiltrated a displacement camp near the Abu Hamid roundabout in Khan Younis, resulting in the abduction of 35 Palestinians. "The operation resulted in the abduction of 35 Palestinians," Asharq Al-Awsat reported, noting that some detainees were released after interrogation while others remained in captivity. A similar operation occurred near the Shujaiya neighborhood, where dozens were detained. These incursions are often supported by Israeli drones and followed by military engineering operations, such as bulldozing, which further extend the Yellow Line westward.
Hamas’s security grip is described as fragile, extending to only 17 to 20 percent of the territory, primarily in central Gaza where damage was less severe. In southern and eastern Khan Younis, as well as in Rafah’s Mawasi area, Hamas relies on ambush tactics to confront Israeli-backed groups, but frequently faces Israeli covering fire. The deterioration of security has led to open defiance by local families, with one source citing an incident in Deir al-Balah where a clan member killed two police officers. The Gaza Interior Ministry stated that 76 police officers and security personnel have been killed since the ceasefire began, further weakening the movement’s ability to maintain order.