Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Thursday that he has instructed the military to seize control of over 70% of the Gaza Strip, intensifying efforts against Hamas. During a conference in the West Bank, he stated that Israeli forces currently control 60% of the territory, up from 50%.
Netanyahu emphasized the need to advance step by step, starting with the goal of reaching 70% control. His remarks were met with calls from the audience to capture the entire Gaza Strip.
In late April, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) provided international humanitarian organizations with maps indicating that they had already gained control of approximately 64% of Gaza. Further territorial seizures would confine around two million Palestinians to an increasingly smaller area of the devastated coastal enclave.
According to a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas established in October 2025, Israeli forces had retreated to a demarcation line known as the “yellow line,” which left them with control over about 53% of Gaza. Hamas has accused Israel of shifting this line, claiming it undermines the ceasefire agreement and attempts to impose new realities on the ground, jeopardizing stabilization efforts.
Both Israel and Hamas are expected to adhere to the terms of the ceasefire, brokered by the United States. However, progress has stalled, raising concerns that Gaza could become permanently divided. Nikolay Mladenov, a Bulgarian diplomat overseeing the implementation of the agreement, warned earlier this month that without advancement, the yellow line could evolve into a permanent barrier, further separating Gaza.
Mladenov acknowledged the dire situation in Gaza, where civilians continue to suffer and families live in fear of Israeli airstrikes. Since the ceasefire began, Israel has conducted multiple strikes in Gaza, citing Hamas’s alleged violations through rearmament. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, these strikes have resulted in over 850 fatalities in Gaza since the ceasefire commenced.
Earlier this month, Israel killed Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigade leader, a key figure in Hamas, followed by the elimination of his successor shortly thereafter. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated on social media that those responsible for the October 7 attacks are marked for death, regardless of their location.
Mladenov also pointed out that Hamas has refused to disarm, a crucial aspect of the ceasefire plan that significantly affects Gaza’s future. Israeli forces are expected to gradually withdraw from the occupied territories once Hamas disarms, with international security forces providing safety in specific areas of the enclave.
While some countries have expressed willingness to participate in security efforts, there is no clear timeline for their deployment. The lack of progress in the ceasefire agreement has allowed Israel to incrementally expand its control over Gaza.
Background:
- The Trump administration unveiled a significant plan for ending hostilities in Gaza on September 29, 2025.
- On October 3, Trump demanded that Hamas agree to the peace plan within a week or face severe consequences.
- Later that day, Hamas agreed to some terms, including the release of hostages taken during the October 7 attack, but rejected key points regarding disarmament and governance.
- Trump welcomed Hamas’s decision, expressing confidence in their willingness for lasting peace, and urged Israel to halt bombings for the safe release of hostages.
- Netanyahu expressed surprise at Trump’s comments regarding Hamas’s readiness for peace and the call for Israel to cease its bombardments, while reports indicated that Israeli leadership had ordered a halt to military operations in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the military to expand control over the Gaza Strip, now aiming for 70%. This escalation raises concerns about the humanitarian impact on the Palestinian population and the stability of the region amidst a fragile ceasefire agreement.