Jerusalem, July 16 -- The Israeli military is now in control of more than 60% of Gaza Strip, said a senior IDF officer, which is well beyond the size of the war-torn enclave's territory that Jerusalem was allowed to temporarily continue holding as part of its ceasefire deal with Hamas in October 2025.
"We are standing here [near] the northern Gaza Strip, looking at everything we have achieved - and we have achieved [near] great deal. More than 60% of the Strip is in our hands," said Central Command chief Maj Gen Avi Bluth during [near] handover ceremony on July 15 for the commander of the 99th Division, whose forces operated in the Strip in recent years.
"There is a security zone for the communities near the Gaza border, held by two divis...