Hamas terrorists cannot conduct terror infiltration due to IDF success - general

What Happened

IDF Central Command Chief Maj.-Gen. Avi Bluth stated on Wednesday that Hamas can no longer mount a terror infiltration like the October 7, 2023 attack, citing IDF control of over 60% of the Gaza Strip and the establishment of a security zone for border communities held by two divisions. Speaking at a change-of-command ceremony for the 99th Division in Netiv Ha’asara, he acknowledged that Hamas still rules, retains residual capabilities, and remains committed to destroying Israel, but said the IDF's eyes are open to remaining challenges. The remarks follow a briefing to the Security Cabinet by senior military officials indicating that Israel now controls 67–70% of Gaza, expanding beyond the 53% mandated under the hostage-release agreement. Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz had instructed the IDF to seize 70% of the territory, with Netanyahu telling a conference in the Jordan Valley that the goal is to move step by step from 60% to 70% control.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

Bluth's assessment marks the first public IDF confirmation that the immediate cross-border raid threat has been significantly reduced, a core objective of the Gaza campaign. The reported seizure of up to 70% of Gaza—beyond the 53% originally envisioned under the hostage-release framework—signals a shift toward deeper, prolonged Israeli military control rather than a limited buffer zone. This development complicates ceasefire negotiations and raises questions about post-war governance, potentially entrenching an occupation that would alter the political and humanitarian landscape of the Strip. It also reflects Netanyahu's step-by-step strategy, which may be aimed at managing domestic political pressures while reshaping facts on the ground.

Watch For

Further IDF expansions toward 70% control and any moves toward the 100% occupation demanded by some Israeli voices. The impact on hostage-release talks, as greater Israeli territorial control may alter Hamas's calculus or international mediation dynamics. Potential Hamas attacks using residual capabilities to challenge Bluth's claims. Cabinet decisions on permanent security arrangements and settler movements near Gaza. International reaction, especially from the U.S. and Egypt, to the breach of the hostage agreement's territorial limits.