Israeli military kills four in Gaza and expands control zone, locals say

Item 1 of 2 Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike on a house whose residents were warned to evacuate before the attack, near a tent camp sheltering displaced people that was damaged in the strike, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip June 7, 2026. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed [1/2] Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike on a house whose residents were warned to evacuate before the attack, near a tent camp sheltering displaced people that was damaged in the strike,... Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab Read more Summary Reports come as Egypt hosts new truce talks Netanyahu told Israeli forces to expand Gaza control Most of the population lives in tiny coastal strip CAIRO, June 8 (Reuters) - Israeli strikes killed four Palestinians, including a child, in the Gaza Strip on Monday, health officials there said, as ​Israel's military expanded the area under its control, according to residents. The reports came as mediators in Cairo said ‌they were pressing on with efforts to salvage a fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal that has ended major clashes but left many key points unresolved. Sign up here. Medics said two people were killed when an Israeli strike hit near a tent encampment in the Mawasi area of Khan Younis in the south of the enclave. In the ​Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, medics said two Palestinians, including an eight-year-old boy, were killed and others were wounded ​in an Israeli airstrike that hit near a group of people digging a well. The Israeli military did ⁠not immediately comment on the reports of the attacks or of its forces moving markers to expand the "Yellow Zone" under their control. Israel ​and Hamas have repeatedly accused each other of violating the truce. Israeli strikes have killed more than 950 people since the truce, health ​officials say, while Israel says four soldiers were killed by militants during the same period. ISRAEL'S NETANYAHU ORDERED EXPANSION Israeli troops still control more than 60% of Gaza's territory, where they have ordered residents out and destroyed remaining buildings. Nearly the entire population of 2 million people now live in a tiny strip of ​land along the coast, mainly in makeshift tents or damaged buildings, under Hamas control. The territory has been bombarded to ruins by Israel's ​two-year military assault that followed the 2023 Hamas attack on southern Israel. On Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed that he had directed Israel's military to expand ‌its hold ⁠and take control of 70% of the enclave. "We are not allowing them to arm themselves or harm us, and we are also eliminating their senior commanders," he said in a speech. Witnesses in the southern Gaza areas said the Israeli forces have in the past few days expanded the "Yellow Zone", in some areas in eastern Khan Younis and northern Rafah where new markers and concrete blocks have been placed. They ​added that new markers bring forces ​closer to areas populated with ⁠tents and displacement centres. In Bani Suhaila town, in eastern Khan Younis, some people say they could see the tanks from their tents. MEDIATORS PRESS ON WITH TALKS Three days into a new round of ceasefire ​talks in Cairo, leaders of Hamas and other Palestinian groups told mediators that Israel must end ​attacks to allow discussion ⁠on the second phase. They demanded more flow of aid and goods into Gaza, and the retreat of Israeli forces to original October ceasefire lines. A Hamas official told Reuters on Monday that Israel had so far refused to make commitments to mediators over any of the demands made ⁠by Hamas ​and the factions. No agreement has been reached to implement a further U.S.-backed plan ​for Israeli troops to withdraw, Hamas to disarm and Gaza to be rebuilt. "Israel refuses to end attacks on civilians in Gaza, allow 600 trucks of aid and goods ​into Gaza as agreed and it continues to occupy more land every day," the official said. Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi; Editing by Andrew Heavens Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab Suggested Topics: Middle East X Facebook Linkedin Email Link Purchase Licensing Rights Nidal Al-Mughrabi Thomson Reuters A senior correspondent with nearly 25 years’ experience covering the Palestinian-Israeli conflict including several wars and the signing of the first historic peace accord between the two sides. Email X