Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Thursday that he has directed the Israeli military to expand its control over Gaza, initially targeting 70% of the Palestinian territory. This move comes as the population is already confined to a narrow coastal strip.
Current Israeli Control in Gaza
Israel currently controls an estimated 64% of the Gaza Strip, which has been heavily damaged by a two-year military campaign following the 2023 Hamas attack on southern Israel. An October U.S.-brokered truce aimed at halting hostilities and disarming Hamas stipulated that Israeli forces would withdraw to a designated "Yellow Line," which marked Israeli control over approximately 53% of Gaza, with Hamas governing the remainder.
However, Reuters has reported that Israel has unilaterally moved concrete blocks marking the Yellow Line deeper into Hamas-controlled areas. Military maps from March indicate an expanded restricted zone, encompassing around 64% of Gaza's territory.
Netanyahu's Remarks
Speaking at a conference in a West Bank settlement, Netanyahu stated, "We were at fifty, we moved to sixty. My directive is to move to – let's go step by step. First of all, seventy. Let's start with that. We're pressing them (Hamas) from all sides. We'll deal with the remnants." He described the seized territories in Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon as "buffer zones" to prevent future militant attacks.
Palestinians view the expanding buffer zone as part of a strategy for permanent displacement, citing remarks from senior Israeli ministers advocating for "voluntary migration" from Gaza.
Escalating Strikes and Civilian Impact
Netanyahu's directive coincides with intensified Israeli strikes targeting senior Hamas leaders. On Tuesday, Israel killed the head of Hamas's armed wing, following the killing of his predecessor ten days earlier. Gaza health officials report that a strike on Wednesday night, which Israel said targeted two Hamas leaders, killed at least 10 people, including five children, and wounded 18 others.
The strike occurred during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, as many Palestinians gathered in tent encampments and bombed-out buildings. Etidal Al-Za'im, a witness, described being inside her tent when rubble from a nearby strike fell on them. "We came out to the sound of a bang, we sat for an hour before we could come out through the rubble," she said.
Since the truce, Israeli strikes have killed over 900 people, according to health officials, while Israel reports four soldiers killed by militants in the same period. Negotiations between Israel and Hamas remain deadlocked over a U.S. plan for Gaza involving an Israeli withdrawal and Hamas disarmament.
Another witness, Abu Azam, stated, "A person in Gaza has no safety at all. He could be hit in the street, he could be hit in the house, he could be hit in the hospital, he could be hit on his way to the market."
