Netanyahu orders IDF to expand control of Gaza to 70%

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed the Israel Defense Forces to increase their territorial control over Gaza to 70%. The move would directly contradict the terms of the ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas in October 2025.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to expand their control over the Gaza Strip to 70% of the territory, according to statements attributed to him. The directive signals a significant escalation in Israel's military posture in Gaza.

The expansion would place Israel in direct violation of the ceasefire agreement that both Israel and Hamas agreed to in October 2025. That deal had been intended to halt active hostilities and create conditions for humanitarian access and the release of hostages still held in Gaza.

The announcement raises serious questions about the durability of the October ceasefire and the prospects for any renewed diplomatic process. Critics and international observers are likely to view the directive as undermining efforts to stabilize the region, while Netanyahu's government has framed continued military pressure as essential to Israel's security objectives.