Netanyahu 70%-Gaza Directive Holds as IRNA Framework Disclosure and India Pressure Define Friday Evening
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s directive to expand Israeli control of Gaza to 70% of the territory remains in operational effect through Friday evening as the IRNA seven-principle framework disclosure, the India diplomatic protest escalation 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 Friday-evening picture — IRNA seven-principle framework disclosure with missile capabilities excluded, Trump “false leak” accusation and “imminent deal” framing, India summoning US deputy chief for second time, IDF continuing Lebanon deeper push, Houthi Red Sea ban holding, Gaza 70% directive in effect, Brent below $96, gilt below 5% — is the most diplomatically complex regional posture since the early-summer phase of the war began.