Israel has extended its control over roughly 60% of the Gaza Strip and plans to push this to 70%, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared while outlining his government’s latest military objectives. This expansion is part of Israel’s broader campaign against Hamas, which follows years of conflict and heightened tensions since the deadly Hamas attack on southern Israel in October 2023.
During a conference focused on regional security, Netanyahu emphasized that Israeli forces have steadily increased their territorial hold in Gaza, marking a significant development in the conflict. Under a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States, Israel originally controlled just over half of Gaza’s area. Since then, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have expanded their presence, moving from 50% to 60% control within recent months.
The prime minister instructed the IDF to elevate that control to 70%, signifying an intensification of military efforts aimed at debilitatiing Hamas’s operational capabilities and governance within the enclave. He stressed that the goal remains to neutralize any threat Gaza could pose to Israeli security in the future.
Netanyahu also highlighted ongoing military activities along Israel’s northern border, where forces recently crossed the Litani River during operations targeting Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon. Israeli strikes have targeted numerous locations across Lebanese territories, including Beirut, Tyre, and the Bekaa Valley, in response to recent drone attacks launched by Hezbollah targeting northern Israeli communities.
These developments come amid a backdrop of heightened hostilities that have resulted in widespread destruction and civilian casualties throughout Gaza. Israeli airstrikes continue to hit strategic Hamas positions, including senior commanders, as the conflict shows no signs of abating.
- Israel’s control of Gaza increased from 50% to 60%, aiming now for 70%.
- Ceasefire terms initially assigned Israel control of roughly 53% east of the Yellow Line.
- Military operations target Hamas’s leadership and infrastructure within Gaza.
- Israeli forces expanded incursions into southern Lebanon, striking Hezbollah strongholds.
- Hezbollah launched explosive drones against Israeli communities ahead of the escalation.
The prime minister reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to pressuring Hamas until the group’s military and administrative structures are dismantled, signaling the likelihood of prolonged military engagement across multiple fronts.