“At this point, we are fully in control of 60 percent of the territory of the Gaza Strip,” Netanyahu said during a conference hosted by the pre-military Ein Prat leadership academy.
“My directive is to get to… 70 percent,” he added.
When audience members shouted in support of full Israeli control over Gaza, Netanyahu replied: “We’re going in order. First 70 percent… we’ll start with that.”
(May 25, 2026)
As part of the October 2025 deal, Israeli troops withdrew to the “yellow line” that runs roughly parallel to Gaza’s coastline and cuts off large chunks of territory at the northern and southern ends of the enclave, giving Israel control of 53% of the Gaza Strip. Since then, they have encroached further west and now effectively control over 60% of the territory.
(November 4, 2025)
The so-called “Yellow Line” refers to the demarcation of the deployment line to where Israeli forces withdrew in the Gaza Strip in accordance with the ceasefire agreement signed on October 9. Despite the ceasefire, Palestinians in Gaza are being prevented from accessing their homes and fields located outside of the Yellow Line, in what amounts to almost 58 percent of the territory of the Strip. Anyone who approaches or crosses the line is at risk of being shot by the Israeli military.
Spokesman: We continue to be very much engaged with the relevant parties. I mean, as you recall, the Secretary-General was in Doha not too long ago, had conversations with the Emir and the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister. We know the US Ambassador, Mike Waltz, was in Jerusalem. He met with Ramiz Alakbarov, our Deputy Special Coordinator. Mr. Fletcher has had contacts with the US. So, we continue to be in contact. But, we are not directly involved in the negotiations and discussions on the implementation of phase two.
Question: And in the term of Gaza, a couple of days ago, it’s been reported that IDF [Israel Defense Forces] Chief of the General Staff said that the Yellow Line, the Trump ceasefire plan, the Yellow Line is now the new border of Gaza. It’s actually a large chunk of land outside the Yellow Line.
Spokesman: I mean, first of all, that seems to me to go against the spirit and the letter of the Trump peace plan, and we firmly stand against any change of the borders of Gaza and Israel.
Question: So, when we’re talking about Gaza in this room, it’s the Gaza, the original one, it’s not the one within the Yellow Line?
Spokesman: Definitely. Okay. Alex, I’ll come back for a second round….
(today)
“We will not allow Hamas to reestablish itself. We control large parts of the Gaza Strip and stand along [strategic] lines. The Yellow Line is a new border line, a forward defensive line for the communities and an offensive line,” Zamir said during a tour of Beit Hanoun and Jabalia, in remarks provided by the IDF.