Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Wednesday that Israel was seizing territory in the Gaza Strip hours after the government decided to plan to take over most of the enclave.
The announcement adds to a growing drumbeat from Israeli officials who have suggested that Israel will at least temporarily shift its tactics to shift its tactics to put pressure on Israel to release Hamas. The remaining hostages. Authorities also argue for a postwar Gaza vision where Palestinians move elsewhere.
Netanyahu said the holding of the territory was intended to encourage Hamas to acquire at least 59 remaining hostages by the group, its group and its allies on October 7, 2023.
In a 15-month military campaign ahead of the January ceasefire, Israeli forces stormed Gazan cities before retreating, leaving vast destruction, but allowed Palestinian extremists to reorganize within the Kura Rub.
Within weeks of the ceasefire settled, many Gazaans returned home, but Israel resumed its attack in mid-March.
Now it appears that the military is planning to broadcast the troops to captured territory. Israeli Defense Minister Katz said on Wednesday that the newly captured areas will be “added to the security zone” currently maintained in Gaza, including buffers along the borders of the enclaves with Egypt and Israel, as well as important paths at the heart of the enclave.
Netanyahu said Israel would establish a corridor, but he said he would suggest that it would block the territory of the city in the southern part of Rafa from the rest of the strip. The so-called Morag Corridor appeared to take its name from a former Israeli settlement in southern Gaza, where Israel retreated in 2005.
It was not clear how big the corridor was, or the duration that Israel intended to hold it. The military said it would not provide details beyond Netanyahu's statement.
In the town north of Beitrahia, Palestinians took them to the city, protesting the war and calling on Hamas to give up power.
“Hamas Out” protesters chanted at the rally on Wednesday. “As ample death,” they cried.
Earlier this week, Netanyahu set up a request for post-war Gaza. It includes what Hamas laid weapons and Israeli security controls in Gaza, what he called voluntary Gaza immigration.
It is unclear whether recent Israeli moves amount to a bid to pressure Hamas to negotiate and make concessions or to pressure Gaza to show a more comprehensive plan. In any case, Israel will face a serious pushback, and it is unclear whether either side can force others to accept the terms of the agreement through military means.
Netanyahu repeatedly conditioned the end of the war over the dismantling of Hamas' military wing and government, but his comments provided a detailed vision of how he thought he could achieve it.
Hamas officials rejected the idea of ​​abandoning their weapons, putting their leaders in exile, and accepting the depopulation of Gaza. Hamas is calling for the end of the war and the full withdrawal of Israel in exchange for the release of all hostages still being held in Gaza.
Even if Palestinians were allowed or kicked out of Gaza, it is not clear where they could resettle. Arab countries, including neighboring Egypt, first rejected the proposal that President Trump had publicly floated to transfer them to the soil.
Israeli forces resumed their attacks on Hamas in Gaza on March 18 after Israel and Hamas failed to reach an agreement to extend the ceasefire that began in January.
On Wednesday, Israeli forces attacked UN buildings in the northern city of Jabaraya, where hundreds of people have been displaced, said Juliet Tuma, a spokesman for the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees. Israeli forces said they attacked Hamas militants hiding in a “command and control” centre without providing evidence. Israel accused Hamas of being embedded in private regions.
Palestinian Civil Defense, an emergency rescue team under Hamasran Interior Ministry, said in a statement that seven people have been killed. The group does not distinguish between that number of civilians and combatants.
Since the ceasefire collapsed, Israeli forces have traveled deeper into the Gaza Strip, including cities in southern Rafa, but they have not wiped out Palestinian cities as before the ceasefire. Both sides had spoken to mediators about potential deals that would stop the battle – without success so far.
Israeli forces issued swept evacuation orders for parts of Gaza. More than 200,000 people in the enclave have been evacuated since the ceasefire broke down, according to the United Nations.
Gaza Health Authorities say more than 50,000 people have been killed in the enclave since the war began after the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023.
Gabby Sobelman, Rawan Sheikh Ahmad and Johatan Reese Reports of contributions.
