The road to redemption: Israel conquered 26 percent of the Gaza Strip. Now Jewish settlers see their chance

The Israeli army’s occupation of parts of the Gaza Strip for an indefinite period is one of the most dramatic developments in the war that began with Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel on October 7.

The Israeli Defense Forces view Israeli control of these territories as a strategic move, while Israel’s political leadership is pushing for the war to continue. In the ongoing ceasefire talks, Hamas is demanding that Israel withdraw from the occupied territories and end the war. Despite reports suggesting progress in the negotiations, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made it clear that Israel could resume fighting, and the parties are still far from reaching an agreement.

The army’s activities in the occupied territories are diverse: it is expanding military bases, building infrastructure and even roads, all under constant fire from Hamas. Based on the analysis of satellite images and other open sources, Haaretz calculates that the Israeli army now controls about 26 percent of the Gaza Strip.

A senior Israeli officer spoke of the areas in the heart of Gaza now fully controlled by the Israeli army, calling them “an attempt at a prolonged occupation.” But the military activity is also giving momentum to advocates of restoring the settlements evacuated in 2005, setting the stage for a new reality: an indefinite Israeli presence in Gaza.