DaysofPal- The United Nations has strongly rejected Israeli plans to expand its control over the Gaza Strip, emphasizing that the entire territory rightfully belongs to the Palestinian people.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stated that Gaza should remain fully under Palestinian ownership.
He reiterated the UN’s long-standing position, calling on Israeli occupation to withdraw from areas it occupies, including zones defined by the so-called “yellow line.”
Dujarric’s comments followed remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who announced that Israeli forces currently control around 60 percent of Gaza and aim to extend that control to 70 percent.
However, Netanyahu did not provide details on how this expansion would be carried out.
The Israeli military had previously declared in October that it controlled 53 percent of Gaza after repositioning forces along the “yellow line,” part of a phased plan initially linked to a proposal by former US President Donald Trump to end the war.
That plan included further Israeli withdrawals during a second phase that began in January.
The “yellow line” refers to a temporary buffer zone in eastern Gaza, separating Israeli-controlled areas from those where Palestinians are allowed to remain.
Palestinian officials, however, report that this boundary has steadily shifted westward in recent months.
According to Bassem Naim, a senior Hamas official, Israeli forces have pushed the line deeper into Gaza, increasing their control by an additional 8 to 9 percent and bringing the total area under Israeli control to more than 60 percent.
Israeli troops have also constructed elevated earth barriers along the line, creating strategic vantage points that overlook Palestinian neighborhoods and provide visibility for tanks and snipers across large parts of the territory.
Since the start of the war on October 7, 2023, more than 72,000 Palestinians have been killed and at least 172,000 injured, with women and children accounting for the majority of casualties.
The conflict has caused widespread destruction across Gaza, severely damaging civilian infrastructure including hospitals, schools, power facilities, water systems, and residential areas.
The ongoing Israeli blockade and devastation have displaced large portions of the Gazan population, leaving many dependent on limited humanitarian aid entering the besieged enclave.
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