Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he has directed the Israeli army to seize control of 70% of the Gaza Strip, which may violate the ceasefire agreement established in October. This announcement was made during a speech in a West Bank settlement, where Netanyahu stated that Israel currently controls 60% of the territory and aims to increase this to 70%. The ceasefire allowed Israel to maintain control of 53% of Gaza, but recent military actions have expanded Israeli positions further into Hamas-controlled areas.
Israeli-backed militias have reportedly been active in encouraging residents to vacate their homes along the ceasefire line. Since the ceasefire began, more than 900 Palestinians have been killed due to Israeli airstrikes and gunfire. Defense Minister Israel Katz indicated that the government’s goal is to encourage a significant number of Palestinians to leave Gaza, which has raised concerns among human rights activists about potential ethnic cleansing.
The expansion of Israeli military control is seen as a violation of the ceasefire agreement and related international resolutions. Experts have noted that such actions would exacerbate the already dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza, where the population density is extremely high. The United Nations has reported ongoing military advancements by Israeli forces, including tank movements and drone activity near the ceasefire line, further complicating the situation for residents in the area.
