Overview

• Israeli forces have declared nearly 70% of the Gaza Strip as security zones or evacuated areas, with a permanent military presence planned to serve as buffer zones.
• Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed that the strategy also extends to parts of Lebanon and Syria, marking a shift from earlier mobile military operations to fixed territorial control.
• The new approach is intended to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages taken during the October 2023 attacks, though critics question its effectiveness.
• Recent airstrikes in Gaza, aimed at expanding security zones, have resulted in civilian casualties, including ten deaths in a residential area, according to Palestinian sources.
• Domestic opposition within Israel is growing, with calls from ex-soldiers and civil society groups urging the government to prioritize hostage negotiations over territorial occupation.