Netanyahu Orders Military to Take Control Over 70 Percent of Gaza
Collected Photo
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the country's military to take control of 70 percent of the Gaza Strip. In a statement broadcast on Israeli media, he said the army has been directed to gradually bring more areas under their control.
In a video aired on Channel 12, Netanyahu was heard saying that they are currently in full control of 60 percent of the Gaza Strip, and his instruction is to increase that to 70 percent.
When an attendee at the meeting called for the occupation of the entire Gaza Strip, Netanyahu stated that they are moving step by step. However, he did not rule out the possibility of taking over the whole of Gaza.
Earlier in mid-March, a map provided by the Israeli military to international aid agencies showed that they had taken control of additional areas beyond the previously designated buffer zones. As a result, nearly 64 percent of Gaza's territory came under Israeli control, up from approximately 53 percent.
According to analysts, if this new directive is implemented, the majority of Gaza's residents will be forced to seek shelter in even more cramped and restricted areas. Currently, due to Israeli control and military restrictions, Palestinians are restricted or barred from entering nearly two-thirds of Gaza.
Meanwhile, UN humanitarian agencies report that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is growing increasingly dire. Displaced families are living in overcrowded conditions within temporary tents, school buildings, and damaged structures. Health risks are also escalating due to a shortage of clean water, the collapse of the sanitation system, and a lack of medical care.
Recent reports indicate that despite various ceasefire initiatives, airstrikes, shelling, and military operations continue across different areas of Gaza, further worsening casualties and civilian suffering.
The war, which began after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, remains ongoing. This prolonged conflict has resulted in massive loss of life, widespread infrastructure destruction, and a severe humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Observers note that as regional tensions rise, military operations in Gaza are taking on a new dimension. (Source: Al Jazeera)
