Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu orders IDF to seize 70% of Gaza Strip

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he has directed the Israel Defense Forces to expand control of the Gaza Strip to 70% of its territory. He said the army already controls about 60% of the area, up from the 53%‑plus "yellow line" set by the October 2025 cease‑fire agreement with Hamas. Maps released by the IDF in late April showed roughly 64% of Gaza under Israeli control. Netanyahu framed the move as a step‑by‑step advance, leaving open the possibility of a later push toward full control.

The order challenges the fragile cease‑fire terms, and analysts warn it could force up to two million Palestinians into an even smaller safe zone, worsening already dire humanitarian conditions. Since the cease‑fire began, more than 900 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza health officials, and the conflict has caused extensive displacement.

Netanyahu’s statement came during a conference in the occupied West Bank, where he said the pressure on Hamas would continue and that the 70% target is the next immediate objective.