Israeli soldier on guard in Gaza, February 2026. Photo: Jonathan Sacerdoti / The Algemeiner

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ​said on Thursday he had directed Israel’s military to take more of Gaza, initially by seizing 70% of the Palestinian enclave, where the ‌terrorist group Hamas has refused to disarm despite the ceasefire in place.

Israel effectively controls an estimated 64% of the tiny coastal strip, bombarded during Israel’s two-year military campaign against Hamas, which started the war with its Oct. 7, 2023, invasion of and massacre across southern Israel.

Under an October US-brokered truce that has failed to secure Hamas’s disarmament, Israeli troops were meant to ​withdraw to a “Yellow Line” demarcating the extent of their control. Marked on military maps, that line put Israel in control of some 53% ​of Gaza, with Hamas ruling the rest.

Reuters has reported that Israel has unilaterally moved the concrete blocks marking the Yellow Line ⁠on the ground deeper into Hamas-controlled territory. Maps issued by the military in March showed an even bigger restricted area that analysts say cordons off around 64% ​of Gaza’s territory in total.

Netanyahu has repeatedly said in public remarks that the military controls more than 60% of Gaza. Speaking to a conference in a ​settlement in the West Bank, the Israeli leader said even more of Gaza would be taken.

“We were at 50, we moved to 60. My directive is to move to – let’s go step by step,” Netanyahu said on Thursday.

“First of all, 70. Let’s start with that. We’re pressing them [Hamas] from all sides. We’ll deal with the remnants.”

Hamas decried the plan as a “dangerous escalation,” trying to portray Israel as the aggressor.

“Any attempt to impose a new reality of occupation in Gaza is null and illegitimate,” said Ismail al-Thawabta, head of the Hamas-run Gaza government media office, adding that Netanyahu’s statement “represents a dangerous escalation.”

ISRAEL STEPS UP STRIKES ​IN GAZA DESPITE TRUCE

Netanyahu describes the territory Israel has seized in Gaza, Syria and Lebanon as “buffer zones” that can stave off potential terrorist attacks following the ​Oct. 7 Hamas-led assault that set off the Gaza war.

Palestinians view Israel’s widening Gaza buffer zone as a part of a strategy to permanently displace them, pointing to ‌remarks from ⁠senior ministers, including defense chief Israel Katz, saying they want to encourage “voluntary migration” from Gaza.

Netanyahu’s directive comes as Israel escalates its attacks in Gaza that it says target senior Hamas leaders who were involved in the 2023 attacks. On Tuesday, Israel killed Hamas’ armed wing chief, 10 days after killing his predecessor.