Netanyahu says he has directed IDF to increase control of Gaza to 70%

Netanyahu says he has directed IDF to increase control of Gaza to 70% 10 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleTabby WilsonReutersIsrael's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking in April this yearIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that he directed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to increase control of Gaza to 70%. Speaking at a conference on Thursday, he said, "We are currently squeezing Hamas; we now control 60 percent of the territory of the Strip – you know this. We were at 50, we moved to 60. My directive is to move to," he said before pausing as someone in the crowd said, "100". "Let's go step by step. First of all, 70. Let's start with that. We're pressing them from all sides, we'll deal with the remnants." The expansion in control by Israel contradicts the terms of the Donald Trump-led ceasefire agreement, which Israel and Hamas agreed to in October 2025.Netanyahu's statement comes as Israel continues strikes on Gaza despite the ceasefire, as Israel and Hamas remain deadlocked in indirect, US-brokered talks to advance President Donald Trump's peace plan for Gaza.At least 738 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire came into effect in October, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, whose figures the UN considers reliable. Netanyahu has made several public remarks confirming that the IDF controls more than 60% of the Strip, up from the 53% agreed at the time of the US-brokered ceasefire deal in October 2025. Under that agreement, the IDF withdrew to a demarcation line, known as the "yellow line", which left Israel in control of roughly 53% of Gaza.The next steps in the 20-point peace proposal would see Hamas disarm and Israeli troops withdraw, but indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinian armed group have stalled. On Wednesday, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz wrote on X that his country had "pledged to eliminate everyone who led th...