Israeli PM orders military expansion in Gaza, Hamas warns ceasefire collapse

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that he had issued a directive to expand the Israeli military's control over the Gaza Strip from 60 percent to 70 percent of the territory, while Hamas warned that the ceasefire deal was on the brink of collapse as Israel ramps up its military operations in the enclave.

Speaking at a conference in the Jordan Valley in the West Bank, Netanyahu said that Israel had been in control of 50 percent of the territory of the Gaza Strip, and was moving to 60 percent.

Netanyahu said that Israel was in a process where it can leverage its power in many directions, and still has to crush Hezbollah.

Earlier on Thursday, the Israeli military said in a statement that it had killed the head of a central Hamas funds transfer network, Ihab Khrizim, in a strike in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Hamas, in a statement released on Thursday, said that the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement is at the risk of collapse due to Israel's continued military escalation.

According to the statement, Israel launched airstrikes on a residential building in central Gaza City on Tuesday night, killing 10 people, including two children and two women, and wounding dozens more.

The statement also called on the United States and the countries guaranteeing the agreement to fulfill their responsibilities, condemn Israel's violations, and take practical and effective measures to force Israel to abide by the terms of the ceasefire agreement.

A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas has been in effect in the Gaza Strip since October 2025. Its first phase included an exchange of detainees and hostages, the entry of humanitarian aid into the enclave, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from some areas.

In January, the United States announced the start of the second phase of the ceasefire plan, which includes a full Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza, the beginning of reconstruction, and the establishment of a transitional governing body.

Israeli PM orders military expansion in Gaza, Hamas warns ceasefire collapse

Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday that the China-Canada relationship has set sail again.

Wang made the remarks during talks with his Canadian counterpart Anita Anand in Ottawa.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that under the strategic guidance of the leaders of both nations, exchanges and cooperation across various fields have fully resumed, with the main economic and trade concerns of both sides having been properly resolved.

He voiced hope of working with the Canadian side to explore the path for advancing the China-Canada new strategic partnership and make good preparations for Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's upcoming trip to China to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting, so as to ensure that bilateral relations move forward along a sound, stable and sustainable track.

Wang said that the ups and downs of China-Canada relations over the years have provided the most important revelation that the two sides should commit to mutual respect, and seek common ground while shelving differences, upholding strategic autonomy and win-win cooperation.

Wang said that China is ready to work with Canada to deepen cooperation in fields such as energy, finance and law enforcement, and that Canada is welcome to participate in the China International Import Expo as the country of honor.

For her part, Anand said that Canada attaches great importance to its relations with China, and that Canada firmly adheres to the one-China policy and has set a goal of increasing exports to China by 50 percent by 2030.

During their talks, the two sides agreed to establish a strategic dialogue mechanism between Chinese and Canadian foreign ministers, and restart political and security consultations between the foreign ministries, as well as the high-level national security and rule of law dialogue.

China-Canada ties have set sail again: Chinese foreign minister