Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Saturday that ‘s military had completely surrounded the southern city of Rafah and established a new security zone as it continues and expands an offensive in the .
The development means that Rafah is now separated from the rest of the Gaza Strip, giving Gaza residents even fewer options to seek shelter from between Israel and the Palestinian militant group in mid-March.
Katz’ announcement came as senior leaders from Hamas, which governs Gaza, were scheduled to hold talks with Egyptian mediators in Cairo, saying they expected “real progress” toward a deal to end the conflict in the enclave.
What did Katz and the army say?
In a statement to Gaza residents, Katz said: “The IDF (military) has now completed its takeover of the Morag axis, which crosses Gaza between Rafah and Khan Younis, turning the entire area between the Philadelphi Route (along the border with Egypt) and Morag into part of the Israeli security zone.”
“Soon, IDF (military) operations will intensify and expand to other areas throughout most of Gaza, and you will need to evacuate the combat zones,” the statement said.
“In northern Gaza as well — in Beit Hanoun and other neighborhoods — residents are evacuating, the area is being taken over and the security zone is being expanded, including in the Netzarim corridor,” he added.
The Israeli takeover of the Morag and Netzarim corridors means Gaza is now effectively divided in three.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had completed the takeover of the Morag route “over the past 24 hours.”
The IDF said it had “eliminated dozens of terrorists, dismantled underground tunnel routes and Hamas terror infrastructure” during an around 10-day operation.
Renewed fighting after ceasefire collapse
Israel has pushed on with its offensive in Gaza following the collapse of the ceasefire with Hamas, saying it wants to pressure the Palestinian group into freeing the 59 remaining hostages it took during an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Only 24 of these hostages are believed to be alive.
Hamas on Saturday said that the offensive not only “kills defenseless civilians but also makes the fate of the occupation’s prisoners (hostages) uncertain.”
More than 1,500 people have been killed since the offensive resumed, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza, while the UN says some 400,000 Gaza residents have been displaced.
‘s government has also imposed a monthlong blockade on food, fuel and humanitarian aid into Gaza, causing acute shortages for the enclave’s 2 million residents.
Rights groups have called the tactic a war crime.
Ceasefire talks in Cairo
The scheduled meeting in Cairo comes after US President Donald Trump suggested that a deal for the release of the hostages was close.
A Hamas official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the AFP news agency that the group expected considerable progress at the talks.
“We hope the meeting will achieve real progress towards reaching an agreement to end the war, halt the aggression and ensure the full withdrawal of occupation forces from Gaza,” he said.
The Times of Israel reported that a proposal by Egypt that is to be discussed would involve the release of eight living hostages and eight bodies, in exchange for a truce lasting between 40 and 70 days and a release of a large number of Palestinian prisoners.
Israel launched its offensive in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas and other militant groups in southern Israel, in which more than 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed.
Gaza’s Health Ministry puts the overall death toll since the war began at 50,933, a figure that does not differentiate between militants and civilians.
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