Israel will expand the gas security zones to include Rafa

Israel’s Defense Minister said he would expand his so -called “security zones” in Gaza to include the southern city of Rafa.

During a visit to the area, Israel Katz said that the military was leaving Gaza “smaller” and “more insulated” to put pressure on Hamas to release the hostages he is still holding.

The military has already seized land that is moving along the boundaries of the Palestinian territory, which it characterizes as a buffer zone for the prevention of attacks.

The expansion of covering the rafa and its surrounding areas – which make up almost one fifth of gas – comes after the military commanded civilians to evacuate and create a new corridor that separates them from the nearby Khan Eunice.

Two -thirds of gas were designated as “unemployed” areas or under the evacuation orders, as Israel resumed its offensive against Hamas on March 18 after the collapse of a two -month ceasefire, according to the UN.

It says that 390,000 Palestinians – almost one fifth of 2.1 million population – have been displaced once again, with no safe place.

The UN also warns that food, medicines and fuel supplies have expired as Israel is blocking the supplies of humanitarian aid to Gaza from March 2.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) began an offensive in Rafa – a home of about 280,000 people before the war – last May, leaving large parts of the city in ruins.

He also seized a strategically important strip of land that moves along the nearby border with Egypt, known as the “Philadelphi Corridor”, which is said to prevent smuggling in gas and Hamas, incarnate.

During the termination of the fire, which began in January, about 100,000 residents returned to the rest of their homes in the city after the troops returned to the border areas.

On March 31, almost two weeks after the resumption of the war, IDF issued a new extensive evacuation order that the UN said it covers 97% of Rafa and its surrounding government, covering 64 square kilometers (25 square meters).

The displaced people were told to head to tent camps in the area of ​​the Al Mavasi Coast, which IDF had previously described as a “humanitarian zone”.

Rafa area is reported almost completely empty when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced three days later that the troops “take over the corridor of Morag” – Reference to a former Jewish settlement, located between Rafa and Khan Eunnis.

He said it would be the “second Philadelphi” and increase the pressure on Hamas to hand over the other 59 hostages, 24 of which are thought to be alive.

On Wednesday, Defense Minister Israel Katz visited troops located in the new corridor with senior Israeli commanders and journalists.

“IDF eliminates terrorists, finds and thwarts the terrorist infrastructure and dismembers the Gaza Strip, even in places like the Morag corridor where we have not worked so far,” he said in a video later published by his office.

“Gaza’s population is evacuated from the battle zones and many areas are seized and added to the security areas of the State of Israel, leaving gas smaller and isolated.”

Katz also warned that “if Hamas continues to refuse and does not release the hostages soon, the IDF will perform intensive military operations throughout the gas.”

The spokesman confirmed to the BBC that Katz told the Israeli website YNET that “the whole Rafa will be evacuated and turned into a security area.”

The BBC also asked for IDF for comment.

On Thursday morning, he said the troops continue to work “in the area of ​​Rafa and along the Morag corridor” and that they “eliminated several terrorists, located and dismantled terrorist infrastructure sites” while working to “establish operational control”.

Israeli military analysts suggest that there is a plan to push the Palestinian civilians to the shore so that the Israeli forces can focus on removing Hamas in urban areas.

According to local media, this strategy would also allow IDF to take control of providing assistance to the coast – bypassing both Hamas and international assistance agencies.

On Tuesday, the UN said the IDF has issued 15 evacuation orders in the last three weeks, covering almost 131 square km (51 square miles) or 36% of the gas.

Another 30% of the territory was covered by the Israeli Zone “unemployed” along the borders of the Gaza and along the Wadi Gaza River Valley, which divides north and south of the territory, he added.

The UN Human Rights Service warned last month that evacuation orders did not comply with the requirements of international law, accusing Israel of not taking any measures to ensure accommodation for affected or providing satisfactory hygiene, health, safety and nutrition.

The Israeli government said it was evacuating civilians to protect them from harm and use by Hamas as “human shields” in violation of international law.

The UN also said that the five -week Gaza blockade in Israel violates international law, which requires it to ensure that the basic needs of the civil population below it are fulfilled and allow the rapid and unobstructed transition of humanitarian aid.

On a separate development on Thursday, IDF announced that a strike in the eastern city of Gaza on Wednesday had killed the Hamas Sherjea battalion commander, whom he identified as Haudat Sheikh Khalil and said he was planning attacks from the area.

A local hospital said the attack, which destroyed a four-storey building, died at least 29 people, including children.

The Israeli military launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response to an unprecedented cross -border attack on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and 251 others were taken hostage.

More than 50,912 people have been killed in Gaza ever since, according to the health ministry in Hamas.