Netanyahu Orders Military To Expand Israeli Control Of Gaza To 70%

JERUSALEM, May 28 (Reuters) – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that he had instructed the Israeli army to seize more territory. GazaBy capturing 70% of Palestinian territory, where the population was initially confined to a small strip along the coast.

Israel effectively controls an estimated 64% of the tiny coastline, which was devastated by a two-year Israeli military offensive following a Hamas offensive into southern Israel in 2023.

Under a US-brokered ceasefire in October that failed to halt Israeli attacks or secure Hamas disarmament, Israeli troops were required to withdraw to a “Yellow Line” that determined the extent of their control. This line marked on military maps shows that Israel controls approximately 53% of Gaza, while Hamas controls the rest.

Reuters reported this Israel unilaterally removed concrete blocks Marking the Yellow Line deep into Hamas-controlled territory. Maps published by the army in March showed an even larger restricted area In total, analysts say about 64% of Gaza’s territory has been cordoned off.

Netanyahu has repeatedly said in public statements that the army controls more than 60% of Gaza. Speaking at a conference held in a settlement in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli leader said that even more of Gaza would be taken.

In his statement on Thursday, Netanyahu said, “We were fifty years old, we turned sixty. My instruction is let’s move forward step by step.”

“First of all, seventy. Let’s start with that. We are putting pressure on them (Hamas) from all sides. We will deal with the rest.”

Netanyahu describes the regions captured by Israel in Gaza, Syria and Lebanon as follows: “buffer zones” This could prevent possible militant attacks following the Hamas-led offensive on October 7, 2023, which started the Gaza war.

Palestinians see Israel’s expanded Gaza buffer zone as part of a strategy to permanently displace them, pointing to statements by senior ministers, including defense chief Israel Katz, who said they wanted to encourage “voluntary exodus” from Gaza.

Netanyahu’s instruction comes as Israel escalates its attacks in Gaza, which it says are targeting senior Hamas leaders involved in the 2023 attacks. On Tuesday, Israel killed the chief of Hamas’ armed wing, ten days after killing his predecessor.

Gaza health officials said that two Hamas leaders were targeted in Israel’s additional attack on Wednesday night, killing at least 10 people, including 5 children, and wounding 18 others.

This strike took place as Palestinians were celebrating the Muslim Eid al-Adha, which many in Gaza celebrate by gathering in tent camps and bombed-out buildings.

Etidal Al-Za’im said that while he and his family were in their tent to celebrate the holiday, the rubble of the attack that targeted the building next to them suddenly fell on them.

“We came out at the sound of an explosion and sat for an hour until we found a way through the rubble and out of the tent,” he said.

Health officials say more than 900 people have died in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire, while Israel says four soldiers were killed by militants in the same period. Israel and Hamas have reached an impasse in talks to advance the US plan for Gaza, which calls for the withdrawal of Israeli troops and the disarmament of Hamas.

Another man who witnessed Wednesday’s Israeli attack and identified himself as Abu Azam said “there is no security for a person in Gaza.”

“He can be shot on the street, he can be shot at home, he can be shot in the hospital, he can be shot while going to the market,” Abu Azam said.