Israeli troops have positioned themselves in a newly created security corridor in southern Gaza, officials say.
On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the creation of a new corridor, Morag, designed to increase pressure on the militant group Hamas.
He suggested it would separate the southern city of Rafah, which Israel had ordered evacuated, from the rest of Gaza.
A military statement released on Saturday said troops from the 36th Division were in the corridor.
It is not yet clear how many soldiers were deployed or where exactly the corridor is located.
Morag is the name of a Jewish settlement that once lay between Rafah and Khan Yunis, and Mr Netanyahu has suggested that the new corridor would run between the cities.
Maps published by Israeli media show that the new corridor runs across the entire width of the narrow coastal strip from east to west.
Mr Netanyahu said it would be a “second Philadelphi corridor”, referring to the part of Gaza that borders Egypt further south and has been controlled by Israel since May last year.
Israel also regained control of the Netzarim corridor, which separates the northern third of Gaza, including Gaza City, from the rest of the strip.
The Philadelphia and Netzarim corridors run from the border with Israel to the Mediterranean Sea.
“We are dividing the strip and gradually increasing the pressure so that they return our hostages to us,” Mr. Netanyahu said on Wednesday.
Saturday's announcement came shortly after a White House spokesman confirmed that Mr. Netanyahu would meet again with President Donald Trump on Monday — their second meeting at the White House since Mr. Trump took office in January.
The United States brokered a ceasefire with Egypt and Qatar, but also supported Israel's resumption of hostilities.
Following his previous meeting with Mr. Netanyahu, Mr. Trump made a surprise proposal to permanently resettle displaced Palestinians from Gaza outside the territory and invited the United States to take “responsibility” for rebuilding the region.
Palestinians, Arab countries and human rights groups have strongly condemned the idea.
Israel has vowed to step up military action against Hamas until it
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
