Prime Minister Netanyahu said Thursday evening that the IDF holds nearly 70% of the Gaza Strip, speaking at the IDF officer course graduation ceremony. He also vowed Israel will not withdraw from the security buffer zone in Lebanon, rejected the claim of 'no achievements,' and stated that Iran will not obtain nuclear weapons with or without a deal, according to Yaki Adamker.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Thursday evening that the IDF now controls nearly 70 percent of the Gaza Strip, updating the 60 percent figure he cited earlier this month (The Zioneer, June 7). He spoke at the IDF officer course graduation ceremony at Bahad 1, an event the desk has been tracking since 18:25 Jerusalem with three consecutive versions.
The territorial claim came as part of a broader address. At 18:25 Jerusalem, the first version of the bulletin reported Netanyahu vowing to hold the Lebanon buffer zone and citing restored Gaza security. A second version, also timed 18:25, added that he mentioned buffer zones in Syria. By 18:25 (third version, published 18:43 as an article), the prime minister framed the war as equal to Israel's War of Independence, vowed no withdrawal from Lebanon, warned Iran would not get nuclear weapons, and swiped at rival Gadi Eisenkot — elements confirmed across multiple news outlets, including Amit Segal (N12) and Yaki Adamker.
As The Zioneer reported on June 10, Netanyahu told the Lebanese people that Israel is at war with Hezbollah, not with them, and claimed nearly 10,000 operatives eliminated. On June 22, he asserted full freedom of action amid reports of an operational halt in Lebanon. Background context from June 8 indicates the prime minister signaled the current round with Iran was over, with Home Front Command easing expected.
It remains unclear whether the 70 percent figure represents a new operational assessment or a revised political benchmark. The prime minister did not specify a timeline for reaching or exceeding that threshold, nor did he detail the geographic distribution of the controlled areas in Gaza.
4 developments
- DevelopingNetanyahu: Israel holds 60% of Gaza Strip, expects to reach 70% soon
- StrongKatz: IDF will stay in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza security zones indefinitely, rejects withdrawal pressure
- StrongKatz: Netanyahu told Trump Israel won't withdraw from Lebanon, Syria, Gaza security zones
- StrongNetanyahu, defense chiefs reaffirm IDF will maintain security zone in southern Lebanon
Source and signal
- Internal intake