Palestinians reacted with cynicism on Friday to the news that Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu had directed the military to take more of Gaza, initially by seizing 70% of the Palestinian territory, where the population is already penned into a tiny strip of land along the coast.⁣ ⁣ ‘When he occupies 70%, where do we go?’ said 72-year-old Mohammed al-Shagra. ‘Where do we go? Into the sea? There is no space, where are we to go?’⁣ ⁣ Israel effectively controls an estimated 64% of the tiny coastal Strip, bombarded to ruins by Israel's two-year military assault that followed the 2023 Hamas attack on southern Israel.⁣ ⁣ Netanyahu has repeatedly said in public remarks that the military controls more than 60% of Gaza. Speaking to a conference in a settlement in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli leader said even more of Gaza would be taken.⁣ ⁣ #gaza #netanyahu #israel #conflict #hamas #westbank #settlers