Israel has completed the establishment of a new security corridor in the Gaza Strip, taking full control over the southern city of Rafah. The IDF has ordered Palestinians to evacuate the area, cutting it off from the rest of the Palestinian territory.
The security corridor, dubbed the Morag Corridor, aims to separate Hamas fighters in Rafah from Khan Yunis, according to Israeli officials. Over 1,500 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Israel ended the ceasefire on March 18, and nearly 51,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 7, 2023.
The IDF has been expanding its operations in Gaza since the ceasefire ended, with plans to capture extensive territories and annex parts of the security zone. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the Morag Corridor as a “second Philadelphi Corridor” aimed at further dividing Gaza and increasing pressure on Hamas to release remaining Israeli hostages.
The establishment of the new security corridor comes after Israel issued evacuation orders for large swaths of war-torn Gaza, including parts of Khan Yunis and almost all of Rafah. The IDF said it had eliminated dozens of terrorists, dismantled underground tunnel routes, and completed the encirclement of Rafah in the past week.
The Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz, warned that IDF activity will soon expand to additional locations throughout most of Gaza, forcing Palestinians to evacuate fighting zones. He also reiterated support for the US proposal to forcibly expel Palestinians from Gaza and offered an alternative plan for voluntary relocation to other countries.
The move has been criticized by the UN and allies, including France and Germany, who have called it a violation of international law and amounting to ethnic cleansing.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/International/israel-takes-control-rafah-creating-new-security-corridor/story?id=120744447