Netanyahu directs Israeli military to expand control over Gaza, says IDF to take 70% territory

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the country's military to expand its control over the Gaza Strip, with the stated objective of taking over 70% of the territory. During an interview at a conference in the occupied West Bank, Netanyahu indicated that Israel is "tightening" its grip on Hamas and currently controls approximately 60% of Gaza, up from 50% previously.

"My directive is to move to--take it step by step--first of all 70," Netanyahu said, explaining that the military will advance incrementally. These remarks follow reports that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had already provided maps to aid agencies indicating control over about 64% of Gaza. Further expansion would significantly reduce the space available to nearly 2 million Palestinians within the besieged enclave.

Under a reported ceasefire arrangement from October 2025 between Israel and Hamas, Israeli forces had withdrawn to a demarcation known as the "yellow line," controlling roughly 53% of Gaza. However, Hamas has accused Israel of unilaterally shifting this line, labeling it a violation of the agreement and an attempt to "impose new facts on the ground" through force.

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We are now in 60% of the territory of the Gaza Strip. We were at 50%. We moved to 60%. My directive is to move to--take it step by step--first of all 70.

Hamas stated that "Moving the line constitutes an explicit and ongoing undermining of the ceasefire agreement, a serious violation of its provisions, and an exposed attempt to impose new facts on the ground by force, with the aim of entrenching military control over the Strip and undermining any real chance of stabilising the situation or making de-escalation efforts succeed." The group views this as an effort to entrench military control and hinder stabilization or de-escalation.

Meanwhile, Israel continues its efforts to eliminate Hamas leadership in Gaza. The IDF announced the elimination of two "senior" Hamas operatives in northern Gaza. On Tuesday, the IDF killed Muhammad Odeh in Gaza, identified as the new leader of Hamas's military wing and a key planner of the October 7 massacre. The operation was reportedly carried out on the instructions of Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz.

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Moving the line constitutes an explicit and ongoing undermining of the ceasefire agreement, a serious violation of its provisions, and an exposed attempt to impose new facts on the ground by force, with the aim of entrenching military control over the Strip and undermining any real chance of stabilising the situation or making de-escalation efforts succeed.