Hamas tries to strengthen, and Israel maneuvers between Trump and Likud voters | Situation assessment in Gaza
A tour by Ron Ben-Yishai at the Ali Munther hill in Shejaiya reveals the current situation in the Strip: the IDF controls 64% of the Strip's territory, the yellow line has been shifted westward, the pace of eliminations has accelerated again, and 85% of the tunnels in the controlled area have been destroyed. Alongside the military achievements, the article presents the political complexity – maneuvering between Trump's demands and the internal political needs of the government.
A tour conducted by Ron Ben-Yishai at the Ali Munther hill in Shejaiya reveals the current situation in the Gaza Strip. The IDF now controls 64% of the Strip's territory, compared to 50% at the time of the ceasefire in October 2025. The yellow line has been shifted westward and northward, a move that serves as an effective leverage point against Hamas in negotiations. The pace of eliminations has accelerated again after a temporary slowdown following a demand from Washington, reaching a peak in recent days. Since the ceasefire, 520 terrorists have been confirmed eliminated, including 80 Nukhba terrorists who took part in the October 7 massacre. Meanwhile, 85% of the tunnels within the yellow line area have been destroyed – more than 260 km. Alongside the military achievements, the article presents the political complexity: the American green light for accelerating eliminations indicates Trump's understanding of Netanyahu's need to demonstrate a strong security hand ahead of the elections, while winking at right-wing voters. The article reports that fighters in the field have no restrictions on firing at immediate threats, contrary to media reports.