Netanyahu Says Israel Directed to Control 70 Percent of Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that he directed the military to take control of 70 percent of the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu spoke at the Jordan Valley Conference in an occupied West Bank settlement. He said forces currently hold 60 percent of the territory after previously controlling 50 percent.

"We are now in 60% of the territory of the Gaza Strip. We were at 50%, we moved to 60," Netanyahu said. Israeli forces withdrew behind that line under the terms of the truce. Hamas accused Israel on Tuesday of moving the line. The group said the action constitutes an explicit and ongoing undermining of the ceasefire agreement.

The Israel Defense Forces issued maps to international aid groups in late April showing control of approximately 64 percent of Gaza. Further expansion would compress roughly two million Palestinians into a smaller portion of the enclave. Audience members at the conference called for Israel to take full control of the territory. Netanyahu said the military is tightening its grip on Hamas.