Israel claims 60% control of Gaza as Hamas retains 25,000 fighters

Israel’s central command chief Maj.‑Gen. Avi Bluth said the IDF now controls more than 60% of the Gaza Strip, establishing a security zone for border communities. Despite the territorial gains, Hamas is estimated to still field about 25,000 armed fighters, including roughly 2,500 elite Nukhba members, down from a pre‑war force of 35,000.

In a related operation, the Israeli Air Force struck a Hezbollah cell operating near the Israel‑Lebanon border in southern Lebanon. The target had been using drones and was deemed a violation of cease‑fire understandings. The attack follows Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun’s scheduled meeting with U.S. officials to advance a trilateral framework aimed at normalising security arrangements along the border.