Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that he directed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to increase control of Gaza to 70%. Speaking at a conference on Thursday, he said: "We are currently…

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that he directed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to increase control of Gaza to 70%. Speaking at a conference on Thursday, he said: "We are currently squeezing Hamas; we now control 60% of the territory of the Strip - you know this.

Key points

• We were at 50, we moved to 60.
• My directive is to move to," he said before pausing as someone in the crowd said, "100".
• We're pressing them from all sides, we'll deal with the remnants." The expansion in control by Israel would contradict the terms of the Donald Trump-led ceasefire Israel and…
• Netanyahu's statement comes as Israel continues strikes on Gaza despite the ceasefire, and as Israel and Hamas remain deadlocked in indirect, US-brokered talks to advance Trump's…
• At least 738 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire came into effect in October, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, whose figures the UN considers reliable.