A senior Israeli official has confirmed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed the Israel Defence Forces to extend military control over 70 per cent of the Gaza Strip. The order, issued late last night, marks a significant escalation in a conflict that has already claimed thousands of civilian lives. Sources within the Prime Minister's office say the move is intended to create a permanent buffer zone and eliminate remaining Hamas strongholds. The expansion effectively carves the territory into isolated pockets, cutting off remaining supply routes and humanitarian corridors.
Whitehall sources confirm that the Foreign Office is tracking the development with grave concern. A senior diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, told me: 'We are watching a humanitarian catastrophe deepen. The legal basis for such an expansion is questionable at best.' The UK government, which has consistently called for a ceasefire, now faces pressure to take a stronger stance. Foreign Secretary David Cameron is expected to brief Cabinet this morning.
The timing is critical. Netanyahu's directive comes just hours after the International Court of Justice issued a preliminary ruling calling for an end to military operations that risk civilian harm. Legal experts argue the order may violate international law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention's protections for occupied territories. 'This is not a temporary measure. It is an annexation by another name,' said Professor Sarah Jenkins of the London School of Economics, who specialises in international humanitarian law.
Uncovered documents obtained by this newsroom reveal that the Israeli government has been planning this expansion for months. A leaked memorandum from the Ministry of Defence, dated January, outlines a strategy to 'decisively break Hamas's administrative capacity' and establish indefinite military control over key areas. The memo, marked 'Top Secret', describes a phased takeover leading to a 'new security reality'.
The immediate consequences are stark. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency reports that only 30 per cent of Gaza's population now has access to clean water. Food supplies are running critically low. The World Health Organization warns that hospitals in the north have been ordered to evacuate, leaving thousands of wounded without care. 'This is a death sentence for many,' said Dr. Rania al-Araj of the Palestinian Medical Relief Society.
Regionally, the fallout is spreading. Egypt has condemned the move, with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi calling it a 'blatant violation of all prior agreements'. Jordan has recalled its ambassador from Tel Aviv. Saudi Arabia, which had been moving towards normalisation with Israel, has put negotiations on hold. Iran's foreign ministry described the order as 'genocidal'. The White House has remained notably silent, though a State Department spokesperson said Washington is 'deeply concerned' and seeking clarification.
Netanyahu's domestic calculus is equally fraught. His governing coalition, reliant on far-right parties, faces internal pressure to go further. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for full annexation. But opposition leaders, including former Prime Minister Yair Lapid, accuse Netanyahu of pursuing a 'war without end' for political survival. Corruption investigations against Netanyahu have intensified in recent weeks.
The question now: will the international community act? The UK has limited leverage, but Whitehall is exploring options including sanctions on extremist settlers and a potential suspension of arms export licenses. A UN Security Council resolution seems unlikely given the US veto. But the tide of public opinion is turning. In London, protests have grown each week. The government cannot afford to be seen as complicit.
I have reported on conflicts for twenty years. I have seen the language of 'military necessity' used to justify atrocity. The numbers here tell their own story: 70 per cent control means 70 per cent of a population trapped, displaced, or killed. The suit-wearing men in London and Washington will talk of diplomatic channels. They will talk of 'complexity'. But complexity should never be a shield for crimes against humanity.
We will continue to follow the money, follow the documents, and follow the bodies. The truth is always buried, but it has a way of surfacing.
