Israel Expands Gaza Control to 70%

Israel Expands Gaza Control to 70%

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced orders for the Israeli army to seize control of 70% of the Gaza Strip, a significant expansion from the 53% controlled after the October ceasefire. This directive, issued during a conference in an occupied West Bank settlement, follows a steady westward advancement of Israeli forces into previously Hamas-controlled areas. The expansion would consolidate Israeli military presence across a larger portion of the territory, impacting the 2.2 million Palestinians residing there.

The current directive aims to increase Israeli control from an estimated 60% to 70% of the Gaza Strip. Since the October ceasefire, Israeli forces have established an expanded no-man's land west of the original demarcation line, asserting the right to control entry and engage perceived threats. This period has seen continued military actions, including airstrikes and firing on Palestinians near the "yellow line," resulting in over 900 Palestinian fatalities since the truce began.

This territorial expansion directly contravenes the October ceasefire agreement, the United Nations Security Council resolution endorsing it, and the Donald Trump-era peace plan. The Trump plan had established a temporary "yellow line" dividing Gaza into Israeli and Hamas-controlled halves, pending further negotiations, and explicitly stated that no one would be forced to leave Gaza. The increased Israeli control would further concentrate the Palestinian population into a smaller, already densely populated area, exacerbating humanitarian concerns.