Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the military to seize control of 70% of the Gaza Strip, a dramatic escalation that threatens to deepen political instability and inflame regional tensions.
What the order entails
The directive, issued to top military commanders, calls for Israeli forces to take control of roughly seven-tenths of the coastal enclave. The scale of the operation goes beyond previous incursions, marking a significant expansion of Israeli territorial control in Gaza. Military planners are now working on the logistics of the seizure, though specific details of the timeline and troop deployments have not been made public.
Rising instability at home and abroad
Netanyahu's decision comes at a time of already heightened political friction within Israel. The move is expected to further strain the governing coalition and could trigger fresh protests from opponents who argue that a large-scale ground operation risks dragging the country into a protracted conflict. Internationally, the order has drawn swift condemnation from regional capitals. Arab states have warned that the seizure of such a large portion of Gaza could destabilize the broader Middle East, raising the risk of a wider war. The United Nations has called for restraint, but no formal response has been announced yet.
What happens next
The military is expected to begin implementing the order in the coming days. The immediate focus is on securing the designated areas and establishing control. Diplomatic backchannels are reportedly active, but no clear path to de-escalation has emerged. For now, the region watches as the first phases of the operation unfold.
