Netanyahu 70%-Gaza Directive Holds as Trump “Nuclear Progress” and Lebanon Fighting Define Wednesday
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s directive to expand Israeli control of Gaza to 70% of the territory remains in operational effect through Wednesday evening as Trump’s “progress toward nuclear talks” framing extends the Iran-Israel pause while the continued Lebanon fighting defines the regional posture. Since the October 10 ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 906 Palestinians and injured more than 2,747 others, per Al Jazeera’s ceasefire-violation tracker. Gaza’s health ministry says the Israeli campaign has killed at least 72,800 Palestinians since the war began in October 2023.
The 70%-control target represents a significant expansion of Israeli territorial control from the roughly 40-45% Israel was operating in before the directive. Critics — including some inside the Israeli security establishment — say the territorial-control objective is incompatible with the second-phase obligations Israel signed up to. The Wednesday-evening picture — Trump “progress toward nuclear talks”, Netanyahu “fire on hold”, Israeli army Lebanon offensive continuing, Hezbollah 25 operations, Barak warning, US House War Powers Resolution, Gaza 70% directive holding, Brent below $95, gilt below 5% — is the most diplomatically complex regional posture since the early-summer phase of the war began.