Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the military to expand its control to approximately 70% [1] of the Gaza Strip.
The expansion of military authority represents a significant escalation in the territorial footprint of the conflict. This move raises immediate concerns regarding the stability of remaining civilian zones and the potential for further mass displacement of the population.
The directive aims to broaden Israeli control over the narrow coastal enclave in the southern Levant [2]. According to reports from May 2025, the plan focuses on increasing the military's operational grip on the territory [2].
Gazans have expressed fear over the implications of this expansion. The prospect of the military controlling 70% [1] of the land leaves fewer areas for civilians to seek refuge, a situation that complicates the delivery of aid and the maintenance of basic services.
Israeli officials have not provided a specific timeline for the full implementation of this expanded control. However, the directive signals a shift toward a more permanent or widespread military presence across the strip [2].
The move comes amid a broader strategy to maintain security dominance in the region. The Israeli military continues to operate in various sectors of Gaza, but the new target for control represents a substantial increase in the area under its direct authority [1].
“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the military to expand its control to approximately 70% of the Gaza Strip.”
The objective to control 70% of the Gaza Strip suggests a strategic transition from targeted raids to a broad administrative and military occupation. By expanding the operational perimeter, Israel increases its tactical security but simultaneously heightens the humanitarian risk by shrinking the available safe zones for the civilian population.
