Israel to has expanded control of Gaza to 70% as Netanyahu issues new military directive.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed the Israeli military to expand its control of the Gaza Strip to 70 percent of the territory, according to remarks broadcast by Israeli media on Thursday.
In footage aired by Israeli Channel 12, Netanyahu disclosed that Israeli forces currently control approximately 60 percent of Gaza and have now been instructed to increase that figure further.
“At this point, we are fully in control of 60 percent of the territory of the Gaza Strip, and my directive is to get to 70 percent,” Netanyahu stated.
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The development has intensified concerns over the future of Gaza and the humanitarian situation facing more than two million Palestinians living in the enclave, many of whom have already experienced repeated displacement since the conflict escalated.
Israeli forces had earlier expanded their presence beyond the “Yellow Line” established under the United States-brokered ceasefire agreement reached in October 2025. Reports suggest that Israeli-controlled territories have steadily grown beyond the boundaries outlined in the truce deal.
Netanyahu’s latest directive is expected to fuel fears of further territorial expansion and increased displacement of civilians, many of whom are currently sheltering in overcrowded camps, damaged buildings, and temporary tents amid worsening humanitarian conditions.
Humanitarian organisations have continued to warn about severe shortages of clean water, inadequate sanitation, food insecurity, and the impact of ongoing military operations on civilians across Gaza.
Despite the ceasefire agreement reached last year, reports of continued airstrikes and military activity have persisted. Gaza health authorities said at least 10 people, including four children, were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Thursday, while several others sustained injuries.
The war began following the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups on southern Israel, which triggered a large-scale Israeli military offensive in Gaza.
International organisations and diplomatic actors have repeatedly called for the protection of civilians, unrestricted humanitarian access, and renewed diplomatic efforts toward a lasting political solution to the conflict.
The latest move by Israel is expected to attract increased international scrutiny and could further complicate ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at sustaining the ceasefire and addressing the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
