Netanyahu orders military to control 70% of Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Thursday that he has ordered the military to take control of 70% of the Gaza Strip, a directive that directly challenges the fragile ceasefire agreement that took effect in October 2025. Speaking at the Jordan Valley Conference in an occupied West Bank settlement, Netanyahu stated that Israel currently controls approximately 60% of the territory and his goal is to expand that figure to 70%, with an audience member urging him to take total control prompting his response: "Wait, let's do it in order. First, 70%." The announcement comes amid escalating tensions, with the Israeli military striking two senior Hamas commanders on Wednesday evening, targeting Ezz al-Din Beik, the northern Gaza brigade commander, and Imad Aslim, the Gaza City deputy brigade commander and commander of the Zeitoun Battalion, while they were reportedly meeting in an apartment after emerging from the underground tunnel network. Israeli security officials are still awaiting final confirmation of their deaths. The expansion directive marks a significant violation of the October 2025 ceasefire terms, under which Israel initially controlled roughly 53% of the Strip. The IDF has been steadily expanding its occupation despite the agreement's provisions. Concurrently, Netanyahu confirmed that Israeli forces crossed the Litani River during operations in southern Lebanon, where the IDF struck over 150 targets across Tyre, Nabatieh, the Bekaa Valley, and southern Lebanon on Wednesday in response to Hezbollah launching drones at Rosh Hanikra and Shlomi. "Now we attacked in Beirut, we attacked Tyre yesterday, our forces crossed the Litani, we are striking them and will strike them very hard," Netanyahu stated, underscoring the broader regional dimensions of the escalating conflict.