PM Netanyahu says Israel controls 60% of Gaza, orders expansion to 70%

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that the Israeli military currently controls around 60% of the Gaza Strip and that he has instructed forces to expand that control to approximately 70%.

"Israel controls 60% of the Gaza Strip," Netanyahu stated during the Jordan Valley Conference. "My directive – 70%. We'll start there," he added.

The war in Gaza began on Oct. 7, 2023, when several thousand Hamas terrorists and others invaded southern Israel, brutally killing 1,200 Israelis and kidnapping 251 people from border communities and the Nova Music Festival.

In October 2025, the Trump administration brokered a fragile ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, which secured the release of the last 20 living Israeli hostages. The ceasefire also led to the formation of the Yellow Line, which divided Gaza roughly in two halves, one controlled by Israeli forces while the other remained under Hamas control. The vast majority of the Gaza Strip's population currently resides in the Hamas-controlled area in the west.

The U.S.-backed Gaza peace plan stipulates that Hamas must disarm and give up its political ambitions to rule the Strip. However, Hamas leaders have rejected disarmament and claim the terror group needs to retain some weapons for “self-defense.”

Earlier this week, the Israeli military eliminated Hamas’ top military commander, Mohammed Odeh. He was killed 11 days after his predecessor Izz al-Din al-Haddad was eliminated in a similar strike in Gaza City. Odeh and al-Haddad were reportedly among the last senior Hamas terrorists who planned the Oct. 7 attack. In addition, both were reportedly strongly opposed to laying down their weapons.

Hamas’ ceasefire violations and rearmament activities have prompted the IDF to expand its strikes and control across the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu’s announcement indicates that Israel may increase pressure on Hamas by taking control of additional areas in parts of Gaza still held by the group.

Meanwhile, Israel is facing a growing drone threat from the terrorist organization Hezbollah in Lebanon. which is also backed by Iran. Hezbollah launched a new attack on Israel in early March after the U.S. and Israel eliminated Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and some 40 top Iranian regime officials.

Israel responded by launching counterstrikes on Hezbollah targets across southern Lebanon, the Beqaa Valley and the terror group's strongholds in southern Beirut. Israel also launched a ground operation into southern Lebanon to push Hezbollah out of firing range from Israeli border communities. When the U.S.-brokered ceasefire came into effect in April, Israeli forces had reached the strategically important Litani River in Lebanon.

However, Netanyahu confirmed on Thursday that Israeli forces had crossed the Litani River and expanded operations further into Lebanon.

"Now we attacked in Beirut, we attacked Tyre yesterday, our forces crossed the Litani, we are striking them and will strike them very hard," he said.

Residents of northern Israel and Israeli soldiers are currently facing a growing drone threat from Hezbollah. Multiple Israeli soldiers have already been killed or wounded in FPV drone attacks and officials have warned that the threat could eventually extend to central Israel if not effectively countered.