Netanyahu 70%-Gaza Directive Holds as Trump Kharg Threat and Lebanon Fighting Define Thursday Evening
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s directive to expand Israeli control of Gaza to 70% of the territory remains in operational effect through Thursday evening as Trump’s Kharg Island seizure threat, the US-Iran strikes exchange and the continued Lebanon fighting define 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 Thursday-evening picture — US strike on Indian tanker killing three sailors, Trump Kharg Island seizure threat, Iran “ceasefire meaningless” framing, Iran retaliating against Gulf countries, Israeli army continuing Lebanon offensive, Hezbollah maintaining operational tempo, Houthi Red Sea ban holding, US House War Powers Resolution constraining further US military action, Gaza 70% directive holding, Brent above $99 — is the most operationally complex regional posture since the early-summer phase of the war began.