The IDF currently controls roughly 40% of the Gaza Strip and has eliminated about 25% of Hamas’s tunnel network. This update was provided today (Wednesday) by Yoni Ben Menachem, a researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. At the same time, he described a complex situation on the ground: “We’re stuck in the hostage deal because of decisions made by the cabinet,” Ben Menachem said.
A significant operational achievement
Ben Menachem noted that while the IDF’s control over 40% of the territory is indeed a significant operational achievement, most of that area is “empty land,” and direct clashes with Hamas fighters have largely been avoided so far.
He added that about 25% of Hamas’s tunnel system has already been destroyed, but roughly 500 kilometers of underground infrastructure remain under Hamas’s control. “During the ceasefires, the organization managed to restore parts of the tunnels that had been damaged,” he noted.
“Hamas’s military wing, along with about 20,000 armed terrorists, are still in the tunnels underground – and we’re barely hitting them,” Ben Menachem added.
“We must not give a green light to Iran’s nuclear program”
Ben Menachem also warned of possible developments in U.S. policy toward Iran, stating that the Trump administration could repeat past mistakes. “It seems the Iranians want a deal, but they won’t give up their red lines,” he said.
He explained that the process of enriching uranium from civilian to weapons-grade (90%) is quick and dangerous, and he urged Israel to apply diplomatic pressure on the White House. “We must make it clear, in a friendly way, to President Trump that giving a green light to this nuclear program is unacceptable.”
Despite the criticism, security officials stress that the operation in Gaza is ongoing, achieving steady gains, advancing on the ground, and delivering precise strikes against Hamas infrastructure — all with a clear objective: to dismantle enemy capabilities and bring the hostages home.
