Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed the Israel Defence Forces to seize control of 70 per cent of the Gaza Strip, marking a significant escalation in the month-long conflict. The order, confirmed by senior defence officials in Tel Aviv, aims to dismantle Hamas’s remaining military infrastructure and establish a permanent security buffer zone stretching from the Mediterranean coast to the border with Egypt.
The announcement came just hours after the United Kingdom’s Foreign Office issued a carefully calibrated statement. The British government, while urging “utmost restraint to avoid civilian casualties”, reaffirmed Israel’s “right to defend itself in accordance with international law”. Downing Street declined to comment on the specific perimeter of the operation but noted that it was “aware of the operational necessity behind the decision”.
The scale of the land grab dwarfs previous Israeli incursions. During the 2014 Operation Protective Edge, the IDF controlled roughly 20 per cent of the Strip at the height of ground operations. The current directive would bring the entirety of Gaza City and the northern governorates under direct Israeli military administration, with 1.2 million civilians caught in the expanding zone.
United Nations officials have reacted with alarm. “Such an annexation would constitute a grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention,” said a spokesperson for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. “The international community must act to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe of historic proportions.” The UN Security Council is expected to convene an emergency session later today, though diplomatic sources predict any resolution will face a US veto.
Washington has so far maintained its position of “ironclad support” for Israel’s security, though a State Department official acknowledged “concerns about the long-term consequences of territorial expansion”. The Biden administration continues to push for a humanitarian corridor and has urged Israel to allow fuel shipments into the besieged enclave.
On the ground, IDF armoured columns have already advanced to the outskirts of Khan Younis in the south, while naval vessels blockaded the coast. The Israeli military reported intercepting 14 rockets fired from Gaza into southern Israel overnight, with no casualties. Palestinian medical sources said at least 32 people were killed in airstrikes near the Indonesian Hospital in Beit Lahia.
The operational objective, according to a military briefing leaked to Haaretz, is to “secure the entirety of the land border and prevent any reconstitution of terror cells for the next decade”. This includes the establishment of a no-go zone two kilometres deep into Gaza territory, enforced by automated surveillance systems and remote-controlled weapons.
Analysts point out that Netanyahu’s move carries profound implications for the region. “This is not a raid; it is annexation by military means,” said Professor Amira Hass of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. “It reshapes the conflict from a cyclical insurgency into a permanent occupation, with all the legal and demographic consequences that entails.”
The UK’s position has been criticised by opposition MPs. Labour’s shadow foreign secretary, David Lammy, called for an immediate Commons debate, describing the government’s response as “weak and complicit”. The Liberal Democrats urged the suspension of arms export licences to Israel.
In Jerusalem, Netanyahu’s office issued a statement saying the operation would continue until “all hostages are returned and security is restored”. The families of the 240 captives taken by Hamas on October 7 remain in limbo, with negotiations for a prisoner swap reportedly stalled.
The European Union is preparing a joint statement, expected later today, which is likely to call for an immediate ceasefire and reaffirm the illegality of acquiring territory by force. However, divisions remain: Germany and Austria have indicated support for Israel’s defensive operations, while Ireland and Belgium have pressed for sanctions.
As night falls over Gaza, the humanitarian situation deteriorates further. The World Food Programme warned it would run out of food stocks within 48 hours if crossings are not opened. With 70 per cent of the Strip now under IDF control, the prospect of a negotiated settlement seems more distant than at any point in the past decade.
The coming days will test the limits of Western support for Israel’s strategy. The UK’s carefully worded statement – backing self-defence but urging restraint – reflects a broader diplomatic tightrope. But as the tanks roll forward and the perimeter expands, that line may become impossible to hold.
