Hamas urges Peace Board to condemn Israel's plan to expand control over Gaza Strip

Istanbul (ANTARA) – Palestinian group Hamas on Friday (29 May) urged the Peace Board (BoP) to take a clear stance on Israel’s plan to expand control over the Gaza Strip, criticising the body’s silence on the issue. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem condemned what he called the Peace Board’s and its high representative for Gaza, Nickolay Mladenov’s, silence regarding Israel’s plan to control 70% of Gaza and continue efforts to displace Palestinians. Qassem stated that the plan constitutes a clear violation of the ceasefire framework and agreements concerning Gaza. He added that the failure to condemn Israel’s expansionist policies and displacement plans raises serious questions about the sponsors’ commitment to holding Israel accountable for its obligations and ongoing violations. Qassem urged the countries represented in the Peace Board to take a clear and open stance on Israel’s threats and repeated ceasefire violations, and to take practical steps to pressure Israel to halt its policies in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged on Thursday (28 May) that Israel controls 60% of Gaza and hinted at plans to expand this to 70%. In October, the Israeli military announced it controlled 53% of Gaza after redeploying to what it called the ‘yellow line’ under the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza. The arrangement envisages further Israeli troop withdrawals in subsequent phases of the plan. On 17 February, Israeli Defence Minister Katz stated Israel would not move ‘a single millimetre’ from the yellow line until Hamas is disarmed. The White House announced on 16 January the adoption of a transitional governance structure for Gaza, including the Peace Board, the National Committee for Gaza Administration, and an International Stabilisation Force. The initiative is part of the second phase of Trump’s 20-point plan to end the Gaza war and is backed by a UN Security Council resolution adopted in November 2025. Israeli attacks have killed 922 Palestinians and injured 2,786 since the ceasefire was imposed last October, according to the Gaza Media Office. Israel launched a genocidal war in Gaza in October 2023, killing over 72,000 Palestinians and injuring more than 172,000, mostly women and children, according to Palestinian data. Source: Anadolu