On May 18, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz announced to the cabinet that Israel currently controls 60% of the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu stated: "The area under Israeli control is no longer 50%, but 60%—this is today’s data." Katz added: "Perhaps this figure has changed within the past hour."
Israel’s claim of controlling 60% of Gaza reflects a strong military posture of incremental advances, yet it is intertwined with complex military, political, and strategic calculations. Particularly intriguing is Defense Minister Katz’s subtle remark—“perhaps it has changed”—which adds a nuanced undertone to this high-profile announcement.
The core data comes from the cabinet meeting: the 60% actual control area includes, since the ceasefire began in October 2025, an additional “orange line” restricted zone (about 7%) on top of the previous “yellow line” (approximately 53%), totaling an area equivalent to controlling over 70% of the pre-war population centers.
This newly added 7% is crucial for severing north-south connections in Gaza and expanding military buffer zones, aiming to further compress Palestinian civilians into a narrow strip along the border with Egypt in the southwest.
Katz’s delicate phrasing—“perhaps it has already changed”—centers on implying operational flexibility: the occupied territory could expand instantly after the announcement, serving to maintain constant pressure and deterrence against Hamas, while signaling Israel’s refusal to be constrained by ceasefire agreement “red lines.”
Israel is leveraging a relatively quiet window to turn “ceasefire” into “creeping occupation,” transforming temporary truce into permanent territorial control, with clear intent to “lock in victory.” Given the possibility of early parliamentary elections, Netanyahu uses this opportunity to project a hardline stance, appealing to right-wing and religious voters domestically.
Israel is strategically reshaping its narrative and testing limits. Its rhetoric has evolved from “destroying Hamas” to “ensuring Gaza no longer poses a threat,” indicating a shift in military objectives—from total elimination of the enemy to long-term military occupation. Simultaneously, it is testing and asserting territorial claims; the expansion of controlled areas gradually probes international red lines, while being coordinated with actions such as demolishing UN site relics in East Jerusalem to build military facilities, further advancing its strategic ambitions.
This round of Israeli actions represents land encroachment beneath the guise of “ceasefire,” combined with domestic politics and international public opinion maneuvers. This undoubtedly undermines the foundation for negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire and continues to erode the feasibility of the two-state solution.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1865538228939788/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.