Israel Expands Gaza Control While Releasing 35 Detainees

The Cabinet of Israel directed military operations across the Gaza Strip that killed six Palestinians and wounded several others over a 24-hour period. These attacks, which occurred in Gaza City, Jabalia, Khan Younis, and Rafah, utilized artillery shelling, drone strikes, and the demolition of civilian facilities.

Simultaneously, Israel released 35 Palestinian detainees through the Karem Abu Salem crossing. This release was the result of a prisoner-exchange agreement brokered by the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. Following their release, the International Committee of the Red Cross transferred the detainees to Nasser Hospital for medical evaluations.

Satellite analysis documented a broader strategic shift in Israeli military activity. Since the October 2025 ceasefire, the Israeli military has constructed approximately 30 kilometers of earthen barriers and new routes to reshape internal boundaries. This effort has increased Israeli control of the territory from 53% to nearly 70%.

These developments have expanded the orange zone, which requires military coordination for aid delivery, to cover 64.9% of Gaza. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs noted that these restrictions are obstructing humanitarian access to displaced communities.