Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed the Israel Defense Forces to expand their operational control over 70% of the Gaza Strip, a move that has drawn immediate calls from the United Kingdom for the establishment of humanitarian corridors. The directive, confirmed by senior Israeli officials on Thursday, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, shifting from targeted operations to broader territorial occupation.
Data from satellite imagery and ground reports indicate that Israeli forces now control approximately 55% of Gaza, with the new orders targeting key areas in the north and south. The expanded footprint is intended to secure buffer zones and dismantle remaining militant infrastructure, according to military briefings. However, the humanitarian implications are stark. The United Nations reports that over 1.8 million people, roughly 80% of Gaza's population, are internally displaced, with access to food, water, and medical supplies severely constrained.
Britain's Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, issued a statement calling for "immediate and unimpeded humanitarian access" to civilians trapped in conflict zones. "The situation in Gaza is catastrophic," Cleverly said. "We urge Israel to comply with international law and facilitate the delivery of aid through designated corridors." The UK has proposed a UN-supervised mechanism to ensure safe passage for convoys, a plan that has received preliminary support from Egypt and Jordan but faces resistance from Israeli officials who cite security concerns.
The physics of warfare in dense urban environments like Gaza City is unforgiving. The energy released by airstrikes and artillery creates shockwaves that level buildings and pulverise infrastructure. The result is a landscape of rubble where essentials like clean water and electricity are scarce. The psychological toll on civilians is equally severe, with chronic stress and trauma becoming endemic.
Netanyahu's calculus appears driven by a dual objective: degrading Hamas's military capability and signalling deterrence to other regional actors. But the cost in civilian lives and international goodwill is rising. The Al-Shifa Hospital, already overwhelmed with casualties, now reports functioning at 10% capacity due to lack of fuel for generators. The World Health Organization warns that disease outbreaks are imminent without immediate intervention.
Technological solutions, such as precision-guided munitions and intelligence drones, have not prevented collateral damage. The asymmetry of power is stark: a modern military with advanced surveillance against a guerilla force embedded in civilian areas. Every tunnel destroyed above ground risks collapsing a school or clinic below.
The British call for corridors is a diplomatic attempt to carve out space for humanity amidst the violence. But corridors require consent from both sides, and that consent is currently absent. Israel insists that any ceasefire must include the return of hostages, a demand Hamas has rejected without a full withdrawal.
As the ground shifts under the feet of Gaza's residents, the world watches a conflict that defies easy resolution. The data is clear: civilian casualties are rising, and the window for a diplomatic off-ramp is narrowing. Whether Netanyahu's 70% target will lead to strategic victory or a humanitarian abyss remains to be seen. But for the millions caught in the crossfire, the present is already catastrophic.
