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Netanyahu’s latest directive signals a further push deeper into the enclave, which is already devastated after more than two years of war.
A Palestinian boy sits at the site of an overnight Israeli military strike on structures and tents housing displaced families in Gaza City on May 28. (AFP photo)
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the Israeli military to seize control of 70% of the Gaza Strip, a move that risks further undermining an already fragile US-brokered ceasefire.
The announcement comes after months of gradual Israeli advances beyond the agreed “yellow line”, which under the truce was meant to mark the boundary between Israeli-held and Hamas-controlled areas.
When the ceasefire took effect in October last year, Israeli forces had withdrawn to around 53% of Gaza. Since then, they have steadily expanded their presence westwards, with reports suggesting Israel now effectively controls around 60% to 64% of the territory.
Netanyahu’s latest directive signals a further push deeper into the enclave, which is already devastated after more than two years of war.
More Bombardments And Control
The ceasefire has not stopped violence on the ground. Israeli forces have continued airstrikes and ground operations across Gaza, with more than 900 Palestinians reported killed since the truce began, according to Gaza health authorities. Both sides have accused each other of repeated violations.
Israeli-backed armed groups have also reportedly been active near the ceasefire line, telling residents to leave their homes and shelters as the military expands what it calls “buffer zones”.
Aid agencies warn that continued territorial gains would push Gaza’s population of around two million people into an even smaller and more overcrowded area along the coast, worsening an already catastrophic situation.
Under the original ceasefire deal, Israeli troops were expected to gradually withdraw and Hamas was to disarm under a second phase of talks. That process has stalled, while maps shared with aid groups suggest Israel has already pushed beyond the agreed boundary in several areas.
Hamas Targeting
Netanyahu and senior Israeli officials have repeatedly said their goal is the dismantling of Hamas’s rule in Gaza. The latest military escalation comes alongside continued targeted strikes on Hamas leadership.
In recent days, Israel has killed several senior figures in Hamas’s armed wing, including Mohammed Odeh, described by Israel as the new head of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades after his predecessor was also killed. Israel says these operations are part of a broader strategy to weaken Hamas after the October 2023 attacks on southern Israel.
Despite the ceasefire framework, Israeli leaders have signalled that military pressure will continue until Hamas is fully dismantled. Hamas, meanwhile, has rejected disarmament conditions tied to the truce, keeping both sides locked in an unstable stalemate.
Deepening Humanitarian Crisis
The impact on civilians in Gaza is becoming increasingly severe. According to the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs’ (OCHA) latest report, most displaced families are now living in overcrowded tents, damaged buildings or makeshift shelters. Access to clean water remains extremely limited, while poor sanitation and waste collection are raising public health risks.
Large parts of Gaza are still considered unsafe due to ongoing strikes, shelling and military activity near residential zones. Humanitarian agencies warn that essential services such as healthcare, electricity and food distribution are under extreme strain.
Officials monitoring the ceasefire have also cautioned that the current situation risks becoming permanent if no political progress is made. There are growing fears that expanded Israeli control could entrench long-term displacement, effectively confining Gaza’s population into an even smaller strip of land.
(With inputs from agencies)
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