Benjamin Netanyahu Orders Israeli Military To Take Over 70% Of Gaza Strip

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that he directed the Israeli military to take over 70 percent of the Gaza Strip, after saying Israel was already in control of 60 percent and asserting “We were at 50 percent, we moved to 60 percent.”

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed the Israeli army to expand its control of the Gaza Strip to 70 percent, according to remarks aired by Israeli media”

Al Jazeera

Hamas accused Netanyahu of violating the October 2025 ceasefire, with Hamas political bureau member Bassem Naim telling AFP that Netanyahu announced expanding control over 70 per cent of the Gaza Strip “while the killing and starvation continue.”

Al Jazeera

The dispute is tied to the ceasefire framework that began in October 2025, with the deal described as creating a “yellow line” dividing Gaza in half and requiring Israeli forces to withdraw behind it.

WION also reported that Netanyahu announced on Thursday that the Israeli military would increase its control of Gaza from 60 per cent to 70 per cent, saying “My directive is to move to... 70 percent.”

In comments at a conference hosted by a “pre-military” academy in an illegal settlement in the occupied West Bank, Netanyahu said his “directive is to move to… take [Gaza] step by step… first of all 70 percent,” while audience members shouted “First, 70.”

Truthout also described how Palestinians who approached the “yellow line,” marked by blocks painted yellow, were shot and killed by Israeli forces despite the so-called ceasefire, and it cited Reuters noting Israel moved some of these blocks deeper into Gaza in January.

Al-Jazeera Net

Sky News said Netanyahu would keep “tightening the grip” on Hamas, as airstrikes killed 10 people in Gaza, including a fighter in the militant group, and it reported that Israel now had control of 60% of the Gaza Strip after increasing its hold from 50%.

Euronews reported Netanyahu said “Right now, we are tightening the grip on Hamas” and that he was “now in 60% of the territory of the Gaza Strip,” with the next step to move that up to 70% and “We will deal with the remnants.”

Hamas warned that the ceasefire agreement in Gaza is at risk of collapse due to Israel’s ongoing violations, and Middle East Eye said Israel’s violations have exceeded 3,000 breaches according to Gaza’s Government Media Office.

Middle East Eye also stated that a further expansion to 70 percent would confine Gaza’s 2.2 million Palestinians to just 109 square kilometres of land, while Unicef said at least 229 of those killed were children and it reported the Palestinian health ministry said Israeli forces killed 16 Palestinians between Tuesday and Wednesday alone.

DW reported that Hamas slammed Israel over Gaza expansion plans after Netanyahu announced plans to expand its territorial control of the Gaza Strip, quoting Hamas spokesman Bassem Naim saying “In a blatant violation of all agreements, as is their usual practice, Netanyahu announced expanding control over 70% of the Gaza Strip.”

Truthout added that Hadja Lahbib, European commissioner for humanitarian aid and crisis management, wrote on X that “Gaza’s humanitarian space is further shrinking,” saying shifting lines hamper aid workers and cut essential services including clean water.