Israel plans to cut off Rafah from rest of Gaza by establishing new corridor
The Israeli military has sent troops to the southern part of Gaza to build a new military corridor. This cuts Rafah off from the rest of the surrounded Palestinian territory.
On Sunday, news outlets said that the Israeli military had confirmed that troops would be sent to a new corridor that was set up across southern Gaza.
Between Rafah and Khan Yunis, Israeli troops were cutting Rafah off from the rest of Gaza.
In a statement, the military announced the dispatch of troops from the 36th Division.
“These soldiers are shooting at people who come close to the area.” A reporter for the Al Jazeera station said, “The only place open to Palestinians right now is the al-Rashid corridor on the coastal road.”
Israel’s territorial expansion is forcing more Palestinians into Khan Yunis and Deir el-Balah. Rafah is critical because it’s the main road for the Karem Abu Salem crossing [between Gaza and occupied territories]. It’s the main way for Palestinians to get through Rafah.
Named after an illegal village cleared out in 2005, the “Morag Corridor” would separate Rafah from the rest of the Strip.
As of Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the new passageway would cut off the city of Rafah in the south from the rest of Gaza.
Since breaking the ceasefire last month with a surprise attack meant to get the Hamas resistance movement to agree to new terms for the truce, which killed hundreds, Israel has also taken back control of the northern Netzarim passage.
The Gaza Media Office said Sunday in a statement on X that the southern city of Gaza has entirely been demolished to make way for Israel to turn it into a “closed military operations zone.”
Netanyahu, who is set to meet with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, said the Israeli military was cutting up Gaza to increase the pressure on Hamas to release the captives.
Israeli minister of military affairs Israel Katz has said Israel would seize large areas of Gaza and add them to its so-called security zones.
The controversial proposal faced fierce opposition globally, with regional countries strongly rejecting the blatant scheme.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military presses ahead with its air and artillery strikes across the Gaza Strip, killing and injuring more Palestinian civilians in its latest round of attacks.
The death toll from the regime’s genocide since October 2023 has crossed a staggering 50,700.