Israel controls more than 30% of Gaza as it ramps up pressure on Hamas

Israel now controls about a third of the Gaza Strip

Its defense forces are capturing large portions of land in the north and south

declaring them security zones. It's all part of the campaign to ramp up pressure on Hamas

The IDF is seizing portions of Gaza and then holding them for an indefinite amount of time

The tactic is the latest effort to secure the release of the remaining 59 hostages held by Hamas

Only 24 of those people are still believed to be alive. Since Israel's enhanced ground operations began last month

more than 30% of Gaza is now under direct Israeli military control

including a new security region surrounding Raffa. The city sits in the south part of the Strip and borders Egypt

Israel reportedly told the Egyptians about its plans prior to the blockade around Raffa

Egyptian officials say Israel intends to keep the area for the long term

while also creating more expansive security zones around Gaza City in the north

Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed his forces are taking over quote many territories in an attempt to make Gaza smaller and isolated The IDF says splitting Gaza into security zones makes it an easier task to dismantle Hamas operations

This as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to call for the terrorist group to disarm or be destroyed

The renewed military ground push comes as a Hamas official tells the Associated Press

that the militant group is sending a delegation to Qatar to continue indirect ceasefire negotiations

Hamas says it's considering releasing up to 10 hostages held in Gaza

but says an end to the war must be a part of the deal

Ceasefire discussions are slated to begin this week or next. Israel and Hamas last agreed to a ceasefire in January

which lasted eight weeks. As long as a ceasefire remains elusive, though

The UN warns time is running out for many Gazans. The humanitarian situation in the Strip is being called the worst it's been since the full-fledged fighting began following the October 7th terror attacks

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