Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly issued orders for the Israeli army to seize control of 70% of the Gaza Strip. This directive significantly escalates tensions and threatens to completely derail an already fragile ceasefire agreement, potentially leading to catastrophic humanitarian conditions in the war-devastated territory. Under a US-brokered ceasefire established in October, Israeli forces had initially withdrawn to a demarcation line, giving them direct control over 53% of the occupied territory. Since then, Israel has steadily advanced its positions westward into what was previously the Hamas-controlled half of the strip, expanding an undeclared "no man's land" where they assert the right to control entry and engage perceived threats.

Netanyahu, speaking at a conference in an occupied West Bank settlement and facing political challenges, explicitly outlined Israel's expanding territorial ambitions. He stated, "We are currently squeezing Hamas. We now control 60% of the territory in the strip. You know, we were at 50, we moved to 60. My directive is to move to… 70%." This expansion of Israeli military control directly contradicts the October ceasefire, the UN Security Council resolution endorsing it, and Donald Trump's 20-point peace plan. The Trump plan had established a temporary "yellow line" dividing Gaza into Israeli- and Hamas-run zones, pending further peace negotiations, and explicitly stated, "No one will be forced to leave Gaza, and those who wish to leave will be free to do so and free to return. We will encourage people to stay and offer them the opportunity to build a better Gaza."

The implications for Gaza's 2.2 million Palestinians are dire. With Israeli forces systematically destroying existing buildings in their zone, an expansion to 70% would force the population into less than a third of their already overcrowded original territory. Muhammad Shehada, a visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, emphasized the severity, stating, "The conditions there are already appalling. It is the single most overcrowded place on the face of the planet. Every square metre has another displaced family, another makeshift tent, or some sort of improvised shelter on it. So it would be a death sentence for a lot of people who physically have no place to go."

Throughout the eight months of the ceasefire, Israeli forces have consistently opened fire on Palestinians within range of the "yellow line" and conducted airstrikes deeper into western Gaza, resulting in over 900 Palestinian deaths since the truce began. Recent UN briefings highlight ongoing encroachments, with reports of daily tank advancements and drones targeting movement near the yellow line in areas like Jabalia, and tank advancements east of Khan Younis. Israeli-backed armed militias, such as one led by Gaza warlord Ashraf al-Mansi, have also been actively involved. These militias reportedly function as "shock troops" for the Israeli army, engaging Hamas but also coercing Palestinian residents along the yellow line to abandon their homes and shelters.

Wael Nayef Abu al-Ajeen, a 26-year-old from Deir al-Balah, recounted how his family was forced out by militiamen earlier this month. They were given a deadline to evacuate, instructed to take only what they could carry, and told not to return until permitted. Nasser Khdour, a researcher at the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, confirmed that militias are not only attacking Hamas but also actively pushing residents further west, with reports of killing, arresting, and kidnapping civilians, alongside increased patrolling activities.

The situation underscores the collapse of previous peace frameworks. Gershon Baskin, an Israeli analyst involved in backchannel negotiations, believes the original ceasefire plan has failed, citing Hamas's alleged non-response to a US offer for disarmament. Baskin suggested that the US might now shift to a fallback plan focusing on reconstruction in an Israeli-controlled "green" zone, allowing only vetted Palestinians from the Hamas-run "yellow" zone to relocate. This would, in his view, leave Hamas and other armed groups isolated in the yellow zone, giving Israel a free hand to deal with them.

Israel's Defence Minister, Israel Katz, further elucidated the government's long-term aim: "voluntary migration" of large numbers of Palestinians from Gaza. Human rights activists, however, interpret this as a plan for ethnic cleansing, achieved by rendering living conditions inside Gaza intolerable. The escalating actions and statements confirm a dramatic shift from earlier agreements, effectively rendering the Trump deal's framework for Gaza null and void, as highlighted by Shehada.