Israel has announced the completion of a new Morag corridor that effectively separates the southern town of Rafah from the rest of the Gaza Strip, further confining Palestinians to shrinking patches of land as airstrikes continue on the enclave.
An Israeli military statement said the forces had “completed the encirclement of Rafah.”
Israeli troops from the 36th Division were deployed last week to Morag, a Jewish settlement formerly located between Rafah and Khan Yunis, after the army ordered a major evacuation that covered much of Rafah, indicating the possibility of a major new ground operation.
It comes as Israel vows to seize large swathes of Palestinian territory to pressure Hamas to free the remaining 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive.
In a statement, the Rafah municipality described Israel's actions as a “flagrant violation of international legitimacy.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has also imposed a month-long blockade on food, fuel and humanitarian aid, leaving some two million Palestinians in the territory facing acute food shortages due to reduced supplies. Rights groups say the tactic amounts to a war crime.
Mr Netanyahu said Morag would be a “second Philadelphi corridor”, referring to the southern side of Gaza's border with Egypt, which has been under Israeli control since May.
Israel also regained control of the Netzarim corridor, which separates the northern third of Gaza from the rest of the strip.
These corridors, combined with the buffer zone that Israel has destroyed and expanded, give it more than 50% control over the territory.
Israel's defense minister warned Palestinians on Saturday that the army would “vigorously” expand into other areas across the Gaza Strip, calling on them to “eliminate Hamas” and free the hostages.
“Hamas is unable to protect the people or the territory. Hamas leaders are hiding in tunnels with their families and in luxury hotels abroad with billions in their bank accounts and are using you as hostages,” said Israel Katz.
“Soon (military) activity will quickly spread to new areas throughout Gaza, and you will have to evacuate from the combat zones,” he added in a statement, without specifying where exactly the Palestinians would go.
The statement called on the Palestinians to step up, eliminate Hamas and free the remaining hostages, saying: “This is the only way to stop the war.”
Hamas did not immediately respond.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
