Israel aims to take control of 75 percent of the Gaza Strip and move its 2 million inhabitants into three designated areas as part of a new military offensive in the coastal strip.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the 10-day-old operation, codenamed Gideon’s Chariots, is intended to defeat Hamas and recover hostages held by the Iran-backed terrorist group. All of Gaza will eventually be taken over by Israeli forces, Netanyahu has said.

The entire population of the Gaza Strip, 141 square miles in total, would be directed to three areas comprising 25 percent of the territory — the southern Mawasi area in the south, central Gaza and Gaza City in the north — according to reports on Israeli media.

The Israeli military did not immediately confirm these reports. It said troops and ta

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