Gaza Herald_The United Nations has reaffirmed that “100% of Gaza should be for the Palestinian people”, in a direct response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement that Israel plans to expand its military control over the Gaza Strip to 70% of the territory.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the organization’s position remains unchanged, stressing that Gaza is Palestinian land and warning against any attempts to entrench expanded military control on the ground.
“One hundred percent of Gaza should be for the Palestinian people,” Dujarric said at UN headquarters in New York.
His remarks came shortly after Netanyahu confirmed that Israeli forces currently control about 60% of Gaza, with instructions to extend that control to 70% in the next phase of military operations.
Expansion of control deepens territorial crisis
Israeli statements indicate that the army has already pushed beyond previous ceasefire demarcation lines known as the “yellow line,” with control expanding gradually over recent months.
According to multiple reports, the shift has reduced Palestinian-controlled space to a shrinking portion of the enclave, intensifying what humanitarian agencies describe as an already catastrophic living situation for more than two million residents.
Analysts say the latest directive formalizes a continued territorial shift that has been unfolding since the breakdown of earlier ceasefire arrangements.
International concern over humanitarian consequences
The UN statement adds to growing international concern over the implications of expanding Israeli control in Gaza.
European officials have warned that shifting front lines are severely restricting humanitarian access, with aid delivery, water systems, and civilian movement increasingly disrupted.
Human rights observers have also raised alarms that further territorial expansion risks deepening displacement and overcrowding in already devastated areas.
Netanyahu signals phased approach
Netanyahu, speaking at a recent conference, framed the move as part of a step-by-step strategy.
He said Israel is “tightening its grip” and would proceed gradually, starting with 70% control of Gaza.
The remarks have triggered renewed debate internationally over the future of governance in Gaza and the fate of its population under continued military operations.
Mounting political and legal pressure
Diplomatic reactions have been sharply divided, with some governments expressing concern over escalation while others reiterate Israel’s stated security objectives.
Meanwhile, the UN continues to insist that any post-war arrangement must preserve Palestinian territorial integrity and reject permanent changes imposed through military force.
As the situation develops, Gaza remains at the center of an intensifying geopolitical confrontation over land, sovereignty, and the future of its population.
