Prime minister’s remark on taking “first of all 70%” of Gaza appears in West Bank speech; move could push nearly 2 million Palestinians to relocate

Israeli announcement and reaction
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told an audience in the occupied West Bank on Thursday that he had instructed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to take control of about 70% of the Gaza Strip, a statement that drew immediate international concern and alarm among Palestinian officials. “We are now in 60% of the territory of the Gaza Strip… My directive is to move, take over step by step — first of all 70%,” Mr. Netanyahu said, according to a CNN report of the remarks.

Local and regional officials said the comment, coming amid months of fighting and a fragile ceasefire framework, risks triggering large-scale displacement in a densely populated coastal territory where roughly 2 million Palestinians live. Sources familiar with humanitarian planning note that a move to occupy such a large share of Gaza could force mass internal migration and overwhelm already-stretched aid services.

Maps and claimed control
The IDF has previously circulated operational maps to international aid agencies, officials said, and those maps — issued in late April — reportedly depicted Israeli control of roughly 64% of Gaza. Under the October 2025 ceasefire arrangement between Israel and Hamas, Israeli forces had withdrawn to a demarcation known as the “yellow line,” which encompassed about 53% of the enclave.

Humanitarian and political actors warned that shifting lines on the ground would have immediate consequences. “If the boundaries of control expand, it reduces safe space for civilians and complicates aid deliveries,” a senior aid official working in the region said on condition of anonymity. The official added that agencies were already operating under severe constraints on fuel, staff movement and secure supply routes.

Hamas and ceasefire concerns
Hamas condemned what it described as an attempt to unilaterally alter the ceasefire arrangement. In a statement on Tuesday, the group accused Israel of “an explicit and ongoing undermining of the ceasefire agreement” and warned that moving the demarcation line constituted a serious violation meant to “impose new facts on the ground.”

Diplomats in the region said the remarks could complicate international efforts to stabilise the situation and resume reconstruction planning. Western and Arab governments have repeatedly urged restraint and called for guarantees to protect civilians and humanitarian corridors.

Allegations about weapon use
Separately, reports have circulated alleging the use of so-called thermobaric or “vacuum” weapons in Gaza. Investigative outlets and some witnesses have described blasts that create intense heat and large-area effects; such weapons are controversial because of their destructive blast and incendiary characteristics. Israeli officials have repeatedly denied using internationally banned munitions; independent, verifiable confirmation of specific weapon types in many incidents remains limited.

Human toll and long-term damage
The humanitarian toll in Gaza remains severe. Local civil defence authorities have reported thousands of victims whose remains are difficult to recover after intense bombardment. Agricultural and economic damage has been extensive: aid agencies estimate that almost all of Gaza’s agricultural land has been degraded since the start of hostilities, with only small pockets remaining cultivable — a factor that will slow recovery and food security for years.

Chronology and context
The latest statements come nearly two-and-a-half years after the conflict flared on 7 October 2023, when a large-scale Hamas attack into southern Israel prompted a sustained Israeli military campaign. The October 2025 ceasefire created a temporary lull and defined lines of operation, but observers have warned that those arrangements are fragile and subject to change depending on political and military calculations.

What happens next
Officials in Jerusalem offered no immediate operational timeline beyond the prime minister’s directive. International actors — including UN agencies and donor governments — are expected to press for clarification on movement plans, protections for civilians, and guaranteed access for humanitarian relief.

Aid groups on the ground said they are preparing contingency plans for further displacement and reiterating calls for protective measures. “We’re bracing for more people on the move and for humanitarian needs to spike,” one aid coordinator said.

The Israel-Hezbollah conflict flared up again after Hezbollah launched a fresh drone strike targeting Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) personnel in southern Lebanon, according to reports emerging from the region. The attack, carried out using FPV (First Person View) drones, reportedly targeted Israeli troops during a medical evacuation operation near the border.

Visuals released by Hezbollah and circulated widely on social media showed Israeli soldiers moving injured personnel towards a helicopter when at least one drone approached the convoy at high speed. While the strike triggered panic among troops on the ground, the drone failed to hit its primary target, as per initial battlefield assessments.

Drone Targets Troops

Hezbollah claimed the attack was aimed at Israeli soldiers and military vehicles engaged in a CASEVAC, or casualty evacuation, mission in southern Lebanon. The group said the operation formed part of its ongoing response to Israeli military activity along the border.

According to footage released by Hezbollah’s media channels, one FPV drone flew dangerously close to Israeli troops and an evacuation helicopter before crashing nearby and exploding. Another drone was reportedly intercepted mid-air after Israeli forces opened fire.

Israeli military officials have not confirmed any fatalities from the strike. Early reports indicated that while the attack disrupted troop movement and forced immediate defensive action, no Israeli soldiers were killed in the incident.

Footage Shows Chaos

The released footage captured moments of confusion as Israeli soldiers scrambled for cover after spotting the incoming drone. Gunfire could be heard as troops attempted to shoot down the aerial threat while continuing evacuation efforts for wounded personnel.

Security analysts tracking the conflict said the footage underlined a growing battlefield trend in which low-cost attack drones are increasingly being used to harass troop positions and disrupt military logistics.

The incident has added to concerns over the expanding use of precision drone warfare in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, especially in high-risk frontline zones where troop movement remains vulnerable.

Hezbollah’s Drone Strategy

Hezbollah has steadily expanded its use of FPV drones in recent months, shifting from conventional rocket fire to smaller, more agile aerial attacks. Military observers say the tactic mirrors methods seen in the Russia-Ukraine war, where low-cost drones have altered frontline combat.

These drones are typically equipped with cameras and explosive payloads, allowing operators to guide them directly towards military targets. Hezbollah has repeatedly claimed such systems have been used to strike Israeli armour, troop carriers and forward operating positions. The latest strike reflects that evolving strategy, even though the drone appears to have missed its intended target.

Israeli Operations Continue

Despite the attempted strike, the IDF has continued operations in southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces remain engaged in cross-border military action against Hezbollah positions. Israeli officials have maintained that operations are aimed at degrading Hezbollah’s offensive capabilities near the frontier.

The latest exchange signals that neither side is stepping back. Cross-border fire, drone launches and missile exchanges have continued despite repeated international calls for de-escalation.

According to regional security reports, both sides have increasingly relied on drones for surveillance, targeting and tactical disruption, making aerial threats a central feature of the conflict.

Regional Tensions Rise

The renewed hostilities have raised concerns over a broader regional spillover, especially as tensions remain high across West Asia. Analysts say repeated exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah risk drawing the region into a wider conflict if strikes intensify further.

The growing use of drones has also shifted military calculations on both sides, with conventional troop movement becoming more exposed to fast-moving and hard-to-detect attacks.

What Happens Next

Military observers expect both Israel and Hezbollah to sustain pressure along the southern Lebanon front in the coming days. More drone interceptions, retaliatory strikes and tactical exchanges remain likely as both sides test each other’s battlefield response.

For now, the failed drone strike has reinforced one reality: the Israel-Hezbollah conflict is entering a more unpredictable phase, where low-cost drone warfare is shaping the next round of escalation.