Israel Expands Gaza Occupation, Mulls Genocide Resumption

(MENAFN) Israel has extended its military occupation to 59% of the Gaza Strip and is actively preparing for a potential resumption of hostilities in the besieged Palestinian enclave, an Israeli radio station reported Sunday.

According to the radio station, Israel controlled 53% of the territory prior to the October 2025 ceasefire — meaning the occupation has expanded by six percentage points since the truce took hold. Palestinian resistance group Hamas has put the figure even higher, claiming Israeli forces now occupy more than 60% of the coastal enclave.

The radio station also revealed that senior military commanders are pushing hard to re-engage, reporting that officials "are pressing for a resumption of fighting in Gaza and believe that the best time to defeat Hamas is now."

Concrete military preparations are already underway to support that push, the broadcaster noted, adding that the Israeli army has drawn down its force presence in southern Lebanon and redeployed regular combat brigades to both Gaza and the West Bank. The southern command, the radio reported, has finalized operational plans and stands ready to resume fighting upon authorization from the country's political leadership.

The report surfaces amid persistent Israeli violations of the existing ceasefire across Gaza, alongside continued military operations in the West Bank.

The truce was intended to bring a definitive end to a two-year military campaign against Gaza that, according to available figures, has claimed more than 72,000 lives, left 172,000 others wounded, and obliterated approximately 90% of the enclave's civilian infrastructure.

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