For anyone thinking or fearing that the war ended before Israel achieved its goals — as of now, the IDF has encircled Gaza City and controls roughly 50% of its area.
According to the army’s estimates, about 900,000 residents have moved south of the Netzarim corridor, and the flow continues even at this hour. The corridor remains firmly under Israeli control, preventing any movement northward.
IDF forces are addressing every threat they identify, and judging by the massive explosions heard all day and evening — even dozens of kilometers from the Strip — there are plenty of such “threats” being “handled.” Reports from Arab media tonight of dozens of Hamas fighters killed in Gaza confirm that Israeli forces are continuing their operations.
It’s true that the IDF isn’t currently capturing new territory, focusing instead on enabling the implementation of the hostage deal. Israel’s interest is for that agreement to take shape — and if it collapses, for Trump and the international community to place the blame squarely on Hamas. In that sense, Netanyahu’s early-morning order to the IDF to pause offensive actions was, at least in my view, a wise move.