In a significant escalation of the conflict, Israeli forces have extended their control over Gaza to approximately 70% of the territory, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced today. The Prime Minister has ordered the Israel Defence Forces to intensify operations, a move that signals a shift towards a more aggressive military stance.
The expansion of control comes after weeks of relentless bombardment and ground incursions that have reshaped the enclave's landscape. Entire neighbourhoods in northern Gaza have been levelled, with key infrastructure, including hospitals and schools, either destroyed or rendered inoperable. The humanitarian toll has been catastrophic, with thousands of civilians killed and over a million displaced, according to local health authorities.
Netanyahu, speaking from the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv, framed the operation as a necessary step to dismantle Hamas's military capabilities. "We will not stop until we have achieved total victory and brought our hostages home," he said. The statement came as international pressure mounts, with the United Nations warning of a looming famine and the World Health Organization describing the health situation as "beyond catastrophic."
The intensified operations include renewed airstrikes on what the IDF describes as "terror infrastructure" in central and southern Gaza, areas previously designated as safe zones. Residents in Khan Younis reported heavy shelling overnight, with multiple casualties. The Palestinian Red Crescent said it was struggling to reach the wounded because of the ongoing bombardment.
The decision to deepen the offensive has already provoked a sharp response from regional actors. Egypt and Jordan have condemned the move, while Hezbollah in Lebanon has vowed to open a new front if Israeli ground troops enter Rafah, the last major population centre in southern Gaza. The United States, while reiterating its support for Israel's right to self-defence, has urged restraint and called for a credible plan to protect civilians.
On the economic front, the cost of the war continues to mount. Israel's economy has contracted sharply as reservists are called up and tourism plummets. The shekel has weakened, and the Bank of Israel has revised down its growth forecast. For ordinary families in Gaza, the price of basic goods has soared: a bag of flour now costs 20 times its pre-war price, if it can be found at all. The fishing industry, once a lifeline for coastal communities, has been virtually destroyed.
For the residents of Gaza, the expansion of Israeli control means a tightening of the siege that already restricted movement and goods. The Rafah crossing into Egypt, the only gateway not under full Israeli control, remains open only sporadically, limiting the flow of aid. The UN has reported that food, water and medicine are running out, and that the electrical grid has collapsed entirely.
This latest push is likely to deepen the humanitarian crisis and increase pressure on Prime Minister Netanyahu both at home and abroad. At home, families of the remaining hostages have staged protests demanding a ceasefire deal. Abroad, allies are growing uneasy with the mounting civilian death toll, which the Gaza Health Ministry now puts at more than 18,000.
As the IDF prepares for what it calls "the next phase" of operations, the question of what comes after the war remains unresolved. The Netanyahu government has rejected proposals for a Palestinian Authority role in post-war Gaza, while the United States has called for a revitalised peace process. For now, the guns are not falling silent, and the people of Gaza are bearing the heaviest cost.
