Netanyahu orders Israeli army to seize 70% of Gaza Strip, source reports
The Story
Benjamin Netanyahu said he has ordered the Israeli army to seize control of 70% of the Gaza Strip, according to a single-source report by The Guardian. The move threatens a US-brokered ceasefire from October, under which Israel had direct control of 53% of the territory. Israeli forces have since advanced westward, and Israeli-backed militias have been telling residents to vacate their homes.
Key Facts
- Netanyahu stated the directive at a conference in an occupied West Bank settlement, saying: “We are currently squeezing Hamas. We now control 60% of the territory… My directive is to move to … 70%.”
- The October ceasefire gave Israel control of 53% of Gaza; since then Israeli forces have steadily advanced westward and declared an expanded no man’s land.
- More than 900 Palestinians have been killed since the truce began, according to the report.
- Israeli defence minister Israel Katz said the government’s ultimate aim is large numbers of Palestinians leaving Gaza by “voluntary migration,” a term human rights activists describe as a long-term plan for ethnic cleansing.
- The expansion would violate the October ceasefire, the UN Security Council resolution that endorsed it, and Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan, which stated no one would be forced to leave Gaza.
- A UN briefing on Sunday recorded daily tank advancements and drone targeting near the “yellow line” in Jabalia, and tanks advancing east of Khan Younis.
- The UN Security Council appointed Nickolay Mladenov as “high representative in Gaza”; his report assigned primary blame for ceasefire failings to Hamas, without holding Israel accountable for violations.
- Israeli analyst Gershon Baskin stated: “My understanding is that the negotiations with Hamas are over.”
Conflicting Reports
The source article presents two differing accounts of responsibility for ceasefire failures: Mladenov’s report blamed Hamas for refusing to disarm, while analyst Muhammad Shehada said Netanyahu is declaring the Trump deal “null and void.” Baskin said negotiations are over, but the article does not confirm whether Hamas has formally responded.
Still Unclear
The article does not specify the exact date of Netanyahu’s statement beyond “this week” and does not state whether the 70% seizure order has been executed or remains a directive. The US government’s official response is not reported.
Misconceptions
The article addresses the framing of population movement: Israel calls it “voluntary migration” while human rights activists term it “ethnic cleansing.” No other widespread misconceptions are addressed.
Key Figures
- Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli prime minister
- Israel Katz, Israeli defence minister
- Donald Trump, former US president
- Muhammad Shehada, visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations
- Wael Nayef Abu al-Ajeen, a resident east of Deir al-Balah
- Nasser Khdour, researcher at the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED)
- Nickolay Mladenov, high representative in Gaza appointed by Board of Peace
- Gershon Baskin, Israeli analyst
Sources: The Guardian
