Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed the country’s military to expand its control over 70 percent of the Gaza Strip, according to footage broadcast by Israel’s Channel 12. In the recording, Netanyahu stated that Israel currently holds 60 percent of Gaza and aims to increase that to 70 percent. When an audience member called for full control of Gaza, Netanyahu replied that the expansion would proceed gradually, beginning with 70 percent.

Reports from The Times of Israel and Al Jazeera indicate that Israel had already extended its control beyond the “yellow line” established in the October 2025 ceasefire agreement mediated by the United States. By March, Israeli forces had expanded their presence to 64 percent of Gaza. The ongoing occupation has left Palestinians unable to access nearly two-thirds of their territory, worsening conditions for the enclave’s two million residents.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs described Gaza’s humanitarian situation as extremely fragile, with displaced families living in overcrowded shelters and facing severe shortages of clean water. UN envoy Nickolay Mladenov warned that the crisis risks becoming permanent and urged international action to enforce the ceasefire and ensure humanitarian access.