Israel’s military has taken control of large stretches of territory in the southern Gaza Strip, encircling the city of Rafah and establishing a security corridor separating Rafah from Khan Younis. The move is part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to increase pressure on Hamas to release remaining hostages.
The Israeli government has declared a “security zone” that will encompass the entire territory of the Rafah Governorate, which the Palestinian Authority strongly rejects as a violation of international law. Rafah is considered an inseparable part of Palestinian land, and the city will remain so forever, according to the Palestinian government.
Israel has also warned residents of five neighborhoods in central Gaza to evacuate in retaliation for alleged rocket fire. The Israeli military’s increasing evacuation orders have resulted in the forcible transfer of Palestinians into ever-shrinking spaces with limited access to lifesaving services.
The international community, including the European Union and nations such as Saudi Arabia and Britain, has condemned Israel’s decision to close eight schools run by UNRWA in East Jerusalem. The US has also been engaged in high-stakes negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, with officials meeting briefly on Saturday to launch talks aimed at concluding a fair and binding agreement.
Meanwhile, Syria is working to sever last remaining networks used for smuggling arms and cash between Lebanon and the Syrian government. The move comes after Islamist militants overthrew President Bashar al-Assad in December, dealing a major setback to Iran’s regional power and largely cutting it off from Hezbollah.
In other news, a Louisiana immigration judge has ruled that Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil is eligible for deportation due to his involvement in pro-Palestinian activism. Khalil’s legal team plans to appeal the decision and pursue other avenues to keep him in the US.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/04/12/middle-east-israel-hamas-war-gaza