Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he has instructed the military to expand Israel’s control in Gaza beyond current lines, deepening disputes over the territory’s future and complicating ceasefire negotiations.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that he has ordered the military to expand its control over Gaza to roughly 70% of the territory, a move that marks a significant escalation in the war and adds new pressure to already fragile ceasefire efforts.
According to reports from the Washington Examiner and Reuters, Netanyahu said Israeli forces had already moved beyond the “yellow line” established under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire framework. Israeli military-controlled territory has grown from about 53% of Gaza to more than 60%, and Netanyahu said he wants that control expanded further.
Reuters reported that Netanyahu described the expanded areas as security buffer zones intended to prevent future militant attacks. He said Israeli forces would continue operations against Hamas, which Israel has vowed to eliminate following the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks that triggered the war.
The expansion comes amid an unresolved fight over Gaza’s future. Israel has argued that it must retain long-term security control over the territory to prevent Hamas or other militant groups from rebuilding their military and governing capabilities. Netanyahu has previously said Israel cannot permit a “security vacuum” in Gaza.
Hamas and Palestinian officials have accused Israel of using military operations and buffer zones to permanently shrink Palestinian-controlled areas and push civilians into smaller parts of the enclave.
The Guardian reported that critics of the expansion plan warned it could leave more than 2 million Palestinians concentrated in a reduced section of Gaza, worsening humanitarian conditions in an area already devastated by months of war.
The question of territorial control has become one of the central disputes in ceasefire and hostage negotiations. Israel has insisted that Hamas disarm before any full military withdrawal, while Hamas has demanded a permanent end to the war.
Reuters reported that more than 900 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire began, underscoring the continuation of Israeli strikes and military operations despite the truce framework.
The war has destroyed large areas of Gaza and intensified international debate over civilian casualties, displacement and access to humanitarian aid. Israeli leaders maintain that the campaign remains necessary to defeat Hamas and secure the release of hostages still held in Gaza.
Netanyahu’s latest order signals that Israel is preparing to expand its military footprint even as diplomatic efforts continue. The move is likely to sharpen disagreements among Israel, Hamas, regional mediators and international allies over whether Gaza’s postwar future will include a full Israeli withdrawal, a prolonged security presence or a new governing arrangement.
Original article
Comments