According to analyst Ben Zion Makales, Prime Minister Netanyahu has adjusted his public estimate of Israeli territorial control in the Gaza Strip to 60%, down from the roughly 70% figure that Israeli political and military leaders had been citing in recent months, as reported by The Zioneer.
Earlier today at 15:29 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during a front-line visit to an IDF outpost along the Gaza Strip's yellow line, stated that Israel controls 60% of the territory. He was accompanied by Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and other senior commanders, and disclosed the capture of Hamas's internal security chief. Now, analyst Ben Zion Makales notes that the 60% figure represents a downward adjustment from the "close to 70%" estimate that Israeli political and military leaders had been citing in recent months.
The evolving control figures have been a subject of public record. On Sunday, June 7, The Zioneer reported that Netanyahu told his cabinet that Israel held 60% of Gaza and expected to reach 70%. On Wednesday, July 1, Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen said the IDF now held roughly 70% and would continue expanding. On Wednesday, July 15, IDF representatives briefed the cabinet that the military controlled 67-70% of the strip. Today's statement by Netanyahu, while echoing his earlier June figure, marks a return to the lower end of the spectrum after months of more ambitious official estimates.
In a broader context, the front-line visit underscored the IDF's continued operational presence in Gaza. As The Zioneer has reported, the military leadership, including Chief of Staff Zamir, has maintained a firm stance on demilitarizing the strip and dismantling Hamas capabilities.
Makales did not cite an official source for his assessment, though the 60% figure matches Netanyahu's own statement earlier today. The Zioneer cannot independently verify the analyst's framing of the figure as a reduction.
4 developments
- DevelopingNetanyahu: Israel holds 60% of Gaza Strip, expects to reach 70% soon
- StrongMinister Eli Cohen: Israel now controls nearly 70% of Gaza Strip
- StrongSatellite analysis maps four IDF penetration zones inside shrinking Hamas Gaza territory
- DevelopingMinister Eli Cohen: IDF now holds nearly 70% of Gaza Strip, will reach 100%
Source and signal
- Open-source intake