Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Thursday that Israel intends to expand its control over Gaza Strip,targeting 70 percent of the territory. His remarks came during a conference, where he stated forces currently control 60 percent, up from 50 percent. A crowd member shouted "100!" to which Netanyahu responded,"Let's go step by step. First of all, 70."
This move, if it leads to permanent effective control, would constitute unlawful annexation, according to Michael Becker,a professor of international human rights law at Trinity College in Dublin. The International Court of Justice reaffirmed in a 2024 advisory opinion that acquiring territory by force violates bedrock prohibition. Such actions also raise concerns about forced displacement and the fundamental right to self-determination for Palestinians.
Netanyahu's announcement follows a United States-brokered peace plan signed on October 9, 2025, by then-President Donald Trump. That agreement stipulated Israeli forces would withdraw behind a "Yellow Line," maintaining control of 58 percent of Gaza. A full withdrawal date was to be determined.
The withdrawal has not occurred. Instead, Israel has expanded its territory by approximately 11 percent since the agreement. It has also established at least 32 military outposts,a ground barrier,and infrastructure along what was intended as a temporary line .
Since the war began in October 2023,Israeli forces have killed at least 72,819 men,women and children in Gaza. Many thousands more are missing and presumed dead under rubble. By 2025, a confirmed famine had taken hold, and nearly all life-sustaining infrastructure has been decimated .
Humanitarian agencies, including Oxfam,have accused Israel of worsening the crisis by restricting aid and essential goods deliveries . The US,despite announcing a ceasefire in October last year, has not reacted to Israel's expanded presence. By April 2026, this presence had choked off access to about two-thirds of the enclave for its inhabitants.
Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz recently referred to "voluntary emigration" from Gaza, a term also used by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Observers widely interpret this phrase as signifying the ethnic cleansing of the enclave. Katz made the statement marking the killing of Hamas leader Mohammed Odeh on Wednesday.
International attention has largely shifted from Gaza to US and Israel's war on Iran, as well as Israel's actions in Lebanon. Israel has occupied large swaths of southern Lebanon. Becker noted the US appears to have lost interest in pushing for restraint from Netanyahu's government regarding Gaza.
