Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the Israel Defense Forces to seize control of approximately 70 percent of the Gaza Strip, a territorial expansion that far exceeds the terms outlined in the recent ceasefire agreement, according to a Times of Israel report.
The directive, revealed during cabinet discussions this week, exposes a significant gap between the publicly negotiated ceasefire framework and the actual military orders being implemented on the ground. The truce agreement, brokered with international mediation, stipulated limited Israeli control of security corridors and buffer zones—not the sweeping territorial occupation now being pursued.
Netanyahu reportedly justified the expanded seizure as necessary for Israel's long-term security, framing the move as preventing the re-establishment of militant infrastructure. However, the decision has triggered immediate controversy both within Israel and internationally, raising questions about the government's commitment to the ceasefire framework.
In Israel, as across contested regions, security concerns and aspirations for normalcy exist in constant tension. The prime minister's order reflects the deep divisions within Israeli society over the endgame in Gaza—between those who view territorial control as essential to preventing future attacks and those who fear prolonged occupation will trap Israel in an unsustainable quagmire.
Opposition leaders have condemned the move as a unilateral breach of the truce terms. "Netanyahu is not implementing a ceasefire, he's implementing an occupation," said one member of the Knesset who spoke on condition of anonymity. "This will guarantee another generation of conflict."
The military directive encompasses not just the border corridors along the Philadelphi Route and security zones around Israeli communities, but extends deep into central , including areas densely populated by Palestinian civilians. The scope suggests a strategic shift from temporary security measures to what critics describe as indefinite territorial control.
