Netanyahu at Gaza Outpost: Israel Holds 60% of Strip, Vows to Stay
Israeli PM Netanyahu visited a Gaza outpost, asserting control over 60% of the Strip and vowing not to retreat.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a rare visit to a military outpost inside the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, near the so-called Yellow line, and declared that Israeli forces currently control 60% of the territory. Speaking alongside the Chief of Staff and other commanders, Netanyahu stated, "We control the territory here... We are not retreating. We are staying on this line."
From the vantage point, he pointed toward Israeli communities such as Ashkelon, Sderot, and Netivot, emphasizing the strategic buffer. Netanyahu suggested that the current footprint might expand, saying, "This may not be the end of it, because we are eliminating the terrorists who threaten us."
The Prime Minister also addressed ongoing operations, referencing the capture of a senior Hamas internal security official the previous day. He reiterated that the core objectives remain disarming Hamas and demilitarizing Gaza, asserting that while these goals have been "largely achieved," more work remains.
His remarks follow an Israeli announcement of a special forces raid in Gaza City targeting the head of Hamas' internal security. Local hospital officials reported that at least four people, including two children, were killed in that operation. The Israeli military confirmed no troops were injured in the raid.