Tel Aviv, Occupied Territories – A directive from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has authorised the Israel Defence Forces to expand their control over Gaza to 70% of the territory, according to documents obtained by this correspondent. The order, stamped “Top Secret – Eyes Only”, was issued late Monday and instructs commanders to secure strategic corridors, industrial zones, and buffer areas near the Egyptian border. Military planners have been given 72 hours to present a phased implementation plan, sources confirm.
The move comes as the British government, through its Foreign Office, has issued a stark demand for an immediate ceasefire. A diplomatic cable, seen by our newsroom, urges both parties to return to the negotiating table within 48 hours or face “significant consequences”. The cable, signed by the Foreign Secretary, warns that continued escalation risks a regional conflagration. Downing Street declined to comment on the specifics but confirmed that “intensive backchannel communications are underway”.
Humanitarian agencies are bracing for a catastrophe. The UN Relief and Works Agency has reported that its warehouses in Gaza are already at breaking point, with food stocks sufficient for only another week. Medical supplies are critically low. Dr Rania al-Masri, a surgeon at Al-Shifa Hospital, described conditions as “apocalyptic”. She told our correspondent: “We are performing amputations without anaesthesia. The wounded are dying in corridors. If the offensive continues, we will run out of body bags.”
Netanyahu’s office released a statement denying any “77% or 70%” plan, dismissing it as “baseless speculation”. But the documents obtained tell a different story. They outline a strategy to fragment Gaza into three security zones, with Israeli checkpoints controlling all movement. The stated rationale is “to dismantle the military capabilities of Hamas and ensure the safe return of hostages”. Critics argue this is a pretext for permanent occupation.
The British intervention is a sharp departure from its previous stance of “cautious support” for Israel’s right to self-defence. Labour MPs have been vocal in demanding action. Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “This cannot go on. The killing of civilians must stop. The UK must use every diplomatic tool to enforce a ceasefire.” The government’s change in tone appears to be driven by leaked intelligence reports suggesting tens of thousands more casualties are imminent.
On the ground, the situation is fluid. IDF spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Avichay Adraee confirmed that troops have advanced to the outskirts of Khan Younis, Gaza’s second-largest city. Heavy shelling was reported throughout the night. An airstrike hit a residential building in Gaza City, killing at least 15 people, including children. The IDF said the building was used as a command centre by Islamic Jihad. Neighbours disputed this, saying it housed a bakery and a pharmacy.
The clock is ticking. The British ultimatum expires at midnight Wednesday. Whether Netanyahu blinks remains to be seen. One thing is certain: the blood is on the hands of those who refuse to talk.
