Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly instructed the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) to take full control of the Gaza Strip in a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict, according to reports.
The directive is seen as a move to intensify pressure on Hamas to secure the release of Israeli hostages still held inside the enclave.
With Israeli troops already occupying about 75 per cent of the territory, the new orders call for the seizure of the remaining pockets, including areas where hostages are believed to be held.
The Jerusalem Post reported that Netanyahu’s office delivered the directive directly to IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, with an ultimatum: implement the order or resign.
The push for full military control of Gaza comes amid a complete breakdown in ceasefire talks and rising frustration within Israel’s leadership over the ongoing captivity of hostages held by Hamas since the start of the conflict.
Notably, Netanyahu’s reported directive to occupy the remainder of the Gaza Strip signals a dramatic escalation in the war effort.
According to The Times of Israel, several ministers have confirmed that Netanyahu has privately used the term “occupation of the Strip” — marking a stark shift from the government’s earlier resistance to re-entering the enclave’s densely populated areas.
The Israeli Security Cabinet is expected to convene on Tuesday to formalise the next phase of operations in Gaza, as pressure builds both from within the military ranks and from a public increasingly distressed by the plight of hostages and the absence of a resolution.
Hamas Releases Hostage Video
The development follows the release of disturbing videos by Hamas and Islamic Jihad, showing two Israeli hostages — Rom Braslavski and Evyatar David — in visible distress.
In the footage, Braslavski says he can no longer walk due to injuries, while David is seen digging what he calls his own grave, stating he has gone days without food.
“When I see these, I understand exactly what Hamas wants,” Netanyahu said in a televised address on Sunday. “They do not want a deal. They want to break us using these videos of horror.”
Meanwhile, reports from Israeli Army Radio suggest growing tensions within the military leadership. Chief of Staff Zamir is said to be frustrated with the lack of long-term strategy from the political leadership, expressing concern over a potential war of attrition with Hamas.
Public discontent also surged over the weekend, as tens of thousands of Israelis rallied on Saturday night calling for an immediate ceasefire and a deal to bring the hostages home.
The mass protest, one of the largest in recent weeks, was driven by the harrowing hostage footage circulating online.
Netanyahu also met with officials from the International Committee of the Red Cross, urging them to push for humanitarian access to the hostages — a request that Hamas has consistently denied throughout the conflict.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
As military operations intensify, the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate.
The United Nations estimates that nearly 1,400 Palestinians have died since May while attempting to access aid, many near distribution sites operated by an American contractor with Israeli backing.
While the IDF denies deliberately targeting civilians, it acknowledges using warning fire to control crowds near aid trucks.
From March to May, Israel enforced a full blockade on Gaza, halting all deliveries of food, medicine, and humanitarian supplies.
Although restrictions have since eased slightly under international pressure, conditions remain dire for the enclave’s estimated two million residents.
