Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that Israeli forces now control 70% of the Gaza Strip, a stark escalation in the conflict that has drawn urgent calls for restraint from the UK government. The prime minister’s declaration, made during a televised address on Tuesday evening, comes as international alarm grows over mounting civilian casualties and the humanitarian crisis in the besieged enclave.
“We have achieved significant operational control over northern and central Gaza,” Netanyahu said, flanked by military commanders. “Our troops are rooting out Hamas terrorists and destroying their infrastructure. This is a necessary step to ensure the security of our citizens.” The assertion could not be independently verified, but it signals a deepening of Israel’s ground offensive, which began in late October after Hamas attacks killed 1,200 Israelis and saw 240 taken hostage.
In London, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly issued a carefully worded statement expressing “deep concern” over the impact on civilians. “The UK recognises Israel’s right to self-defence, but it must be done within international law. We urge the Israeli government to exercise restraint and take all possible measures to protect innocent lives,” he said. The British government has stopped short of calling for a ceasefire, instead advocating for “humanitarian pauses” to allow aid into Gaza.
Meanwhile, the human toll continues to mount. Gaza’s health ministry, run by Hamas, reported that more than 15,000 Palestinians have been killed since the offensive began, including over 6,000 children. The figures have not been independently verified but are consistent with reports from UN agencies and medical workers on the ground. Hospitals are overwhelmed, running on generators with dwindling fuel supplies. Doctors describe performing surgeries without anaesthetic, using vinegar as antiseptic.
For ordinary Palestinians, life has become a daily struggle for survival. Ahmed al-Masri, a father of four sheltering in a UN school in Khan Younis, told reporters: “We have no water, no bread, no safety. The bombing is everywhere. My daughter hasn’t slept in two nights. Where is the world?” His words reflect a growing sense of abandonment among Gazans, who feel the international community has failed them.
Netanyahu’s assertion of control comes amid a fierce propaganda battle. Israel’s military has released videos of tanks advancing through rubble-strewn streets and soldiers searching abandoned buildings. But independent journalists have limited access to Gaza, making verification difficult. The Israeli government has also faced criticism from allies over the high civilian death toll, with President Joe Biden reportedly pressing Netanyahu to scale back operations.
The conflict’s economic impact is being felt far beyond Gaza. In the UK, pro-Palestinian protests have drawn tens of thousands, while Jewish communities report a surge in antisemitic incidents. The government is walking a tightrope, balancing support for Israel with growing domestic pressure to condemn its actions. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has come under fire from his own MPs for failing to call for a ceasefire, with some accusing him of “turning a blind eye to war crimes”.
As the death toll rises, the question remains: what does “control” mean in a densely populated urban warzone? For the families huddled in UN shelters, it means more bombs, more fear, and no end in sight. For Netanyahu, it is a military objective. For the UK, it is a diplomatic nightmare. And for the people of Gaza, it is simply a daily fight for a bowl of rice and a moment of quiet.
