Israel announced that it had completed the construction of a new security corridor, isolating the southern city of Rafah from the rest of Gaza. The military further stated it would soon increase operations across the majority of Gaza. As a result, Palestinians are being pushed into even more confined areas. Defense Minister Israel Katz emphasized that military actions would expand rapidly, urging Palestinians to evacuate certain areas, though it was unclear where they would be relocated. The government’s statement reiterated that the only way to halt the war was for Palestinians to dismantle Hamas and free the remaining hostages.
Israeli troops were deployed last week to a new corridor called Morag, after evacuations were ordered for most of Rafah, signaling the potential for another major ground operation. The Rafah municipality condemned Israel’s actions as violations of international law. Israel’s goal is to seize large portions of Gaza to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages and agreeing to new ceasefire terms. This move is part of a broader effort, including a blockade on food, fuel, and aid, which rights groups have condemned as a war crime.
The U.S. has proposed a plan for Palestinians to relocate voluntarily to other countries, though Palestinians have rejected this suggestion. Human Rights Watch and other groups warn that such a move could amount to “ethnic cleansing.” Meanwhile, many Palestinians are living in overcrowded conditions as a result of frequent evacuations and airstrikes since the conflict escalated after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
The situation continues to worsen, with ongoing Israeli strikes killing dozens more people.
