Diplomatic “test” for fragile ceasefire as Israeli prime minister declares control over 60% of the Gaza Strip and escalating tensions.
At a time when the situation in the Gaza Strip remains extremely volatile and the balance of the ceasefire is being tested every day, new statements by Benjamin Netanyahu bring the debate over the extent of Israeli military control of the Palestinian enclave back to the forefront. The Israel’s prime minister claimed that Israeli forces have expanded their presence to about 60% of the territory, at a time when clashes and allegations of violations of the ceasefire agreement continue on the ground. This development comes to intensify the already tense climate, as negotiations on the next stages of the ceasefire remain stalled and the humanitarian situation is deteriorating, creating a complex geopolitical landscape with uncertain prospects for de-escalation.
The Israeli forces currently control 60 percent of the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, in the first official confirmation of the expansion of the territory held by Israel in the Palestinian enclave devastated by two years of war.
We brought home all our hostages, every last one
“In the past two years, we have shown the whole world the inherent strength of our people, our state, our army, our heritage,” Netanyahu said today, “Jerusalem Day,” in statements released by his office.
“We brought home all our hostages, every last one. (…) We have not ceded any territory. Some told us to leave, we didn’t leave and today we control 60% of the territory. Tomorrow, we will see,” the Israeli prime minister said.
These statements come as violence remains a daily occurrence in the Gaza Strip, with Israeli attacks continuing unabated while Israel and Hamas accuse each other of violating the ceasefire.
The latter went into effect on Oct. 10, two years after the war began on Oct. 7, 2023, with an unprecedented attack by Palestinian Islamist militants in southern Israel.
The “orange line”
The first phase of the truce saw the release of the last hostages in Gaza kidnapped by Hamas in exchange for Palestinians held by Israel.
However, the transition to the second phase, which theoretically involves the disarmament of Hamas and a gradual withdrawal of the Israeli army to the so-called “yellow line,” has been completely halted for weeks.
This line demarcates the area of the enclave controlled by Hamas and one controlled by the Israeli army.
The terms of the ceasefire gave Israel control of just over 50 percent of the Gaza Strip.
However, according to press reports in recent weeks, Israeli troops have been expanding this zone to a new, so-called “orange line.” According to reports, Israeli armed forces to resume fighting if Hamas refuses to lay down its arms.
According to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry, more than 850 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began.
During the same period, the Israeli army announced the death of five of its soldiers in Gaza.
