Lead

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the military to take control of 70 percent of the Gaza Strip, a move that threatens to undermine the fragile ceasefire brokered by the United States in October 2025. According to remarks aired by Israeli media and reported by multiple outlets, Netanyahu told a conference that Israeli forces already control around 60 percent of the Palestinian territory and that his directive is to increase that to 70 percent. The announcement has raised alarm over the humanitarian situation in the enclave and drawn criticism from international observers.

Coverage Comparison

The story has been covered primarily by Al Jazeera and The Guardian, both of which highlight the expansion of Israeli control beyond the terms of the October ceasefire. Al Jazeera's reporting emphasizes both the military expansion and the humanitarian crisis, while The Guardian frames the move as a direct violation of the ceasefire agreement and a threat to the already devastated territory. Both outlets cite Netanyahu's public remarks, with direct quotes from a conference appearance, and note that Israeli forces have been steadily advancing their positions since the ceasefire took effect.

Key Claims

  • Netanyahu's order to seize 70 percent of Gaza: Multiple sources, including Al Jazeera and The Guardian, report that Netanyahu has instructed the military to expand control to 70 percent, despite the ceasefire agreement that limited Israeli control to 58 percent of the territory.
  • Current Israeli control: According to Netanyahu's own statements, Israeli forces currently control approximately 60 percent of Gaza, up from around 50 percent at the start of the ceasefire. The expansion beyond the 'Yellow Line' has been confirmed by satellite data and reports from the Israeli military.
  • Ceasefire violations: Since the ceasefire began in October 2025, Israeli forces have continued near-daily strikes on the enclave, with at least 922 Palestinians killed, according to a tally cited by Al Jazeera. The Guardian also reports more than 900 deaths during the ceasefire period.
  • Humanitarian impact: The expansion of Israeli control has worsened the humanitarian situation in Gaza, with 2.2 million Palestinians crammed into less than a third of their original territory. Aid agencies, including Oxfam, have accused Israel of restricting deliveries of essential goods.
  • International response: The United States has not publicly reacted strongly to the expansion, despite having brokered the ceasefire. The UN Security Council resolution endorsing the ceasefire has not been enforced, and no meaningful sanctions have been imposed on Israel.

Perspectives

Israeli government

Prime Minister Netanyahu has framed the expansion as necessary to 'squeeze Hamas' and secure Israeli interests. In his remarks, he stated, 'We are currently squeezing Hamas; we now control 60 percent of the territory of the Strip – you know this. We were at 50. My directive is to move to…' He paused, as someone in the crowd shouted '100 percent,' to which he responded, 'Let's go step by step. First of all, 70. Let's start with that.' Defence Minister Israel Katz has also spoken of 'voluntary migration' of Palestinians out of Gaza, a term human rights activists describe as ethnic cleansing.

Palestinian and humanitarian observers

Human rights organisations and aid agencies have condemned the expansion, warning of catastrophic humanitarian conditions. The Guardian reports that further seizure of territory would force two million Palestinians into an even smaller area, after enduring two years of conflict. Al Jazeera quotes experts who describe the situation as 'genocidal war' and accuse Israel of 'ethnic cleansing' through making living conditions intolerable.

International community

While the US brokered the October ceasefire, House Democrats have questioned Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the lack of progress on the 20-point plan and the lack of reaction to Israel's expansion. The international community, including the UN, has not enforced meaningful sanctions, and the ceasefire's collapse is seen as a serious risk.