Netanyahu says he has directed the IDF to expand control of Gaza to 70 per cent

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced he has directed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to expand operational control of Gaza to 70 per cent. According to the BBC, the step contradicts the terms of the ceasefire agreed between Israel and Hamas in October 2025. Interpretation of the ceasefire arrangement was being mediated by the United States.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) repeated its warning that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is 'chronically deteriorating'. The office said the operational capacity of water, food and health infrastructure was at around 30 per cent. According to the BBC, Hamas said 'a unilateral expansion would dismantle the binding framework of the ceasefire'.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, commenting on the development, repeated the call that 'all sides must remain faithful to the ceasefire parameters'. Crisis Group analyst Comfort Ero, speaking to Reuters, said 'a change in the control map on the ground would heavily affect the diplomatic road map'. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas said any 'unilateral line redrawing would be assessed from the perspective of international law'.