Israel Deploys Troops to New Gaza Security Corridor \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Israel deployed troops to a newly established Morag Corridor across southern Gaza, aiming to isolate Rafah and increase pressure on Hamas. The move comes amid escalating fighting and stalled ceasefire talks. More than 50,000 Palestinians have died since the war began, with hostages still held in Gaza.
Quick Looks
- Israel confirms troop deployment to new “Morag Corridor”
- Corridor runs east-west, cutting off Rafah from Gaza
- Netanyahu calls it a “second Philadelphi corridor”
- Israel previously reasserted control over Netzarim corridor
- Goal is to pressure Hamas into returning remaining hostages
- Over 50,000 Palestinians killed, most reportedly civilians
- Hamas demands ceasefire, prisoner release, and Israeli withdrawal
- U.S. backs Israeli offensive, Trump-Netanyahu to meet Monday
- Trump proposes Gaza redevelopment, refugee relocation — widely condemned
- 15 Palestinian medics killed, buried by Israeli bulldozers
Deep Look
The Israeli military on Saturday announced the deployment of troops along a newly established “Morag Corridor” in southern Gaza, marking a significant escalation in its ongoing campaign against Hamas. The corridor is intended to sever the city of Rafah from the rest of Gaza, further dividing the coastal enclave and ramping up military pressure weeks into the renewed Israeli offensive.
The move was first publicly confirmed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday. The Israeli leader said the new corridor would serve as a strategic choke point, helping Israel isolate Rafah—where more than 1 million displaced Palestinians are currently sheltering—and increase leverage on Hamas to return hostages taken during the Oct. 7 attack.
What Is the Morag Corridor?
Named after a former Israeli settlement between Rafah and Khan Younis, the Morag Corridor is the latest in a series of Israeli-controlled zones slicing through Gaza. According to Israeli media maps, the new route runs east to west, stretching from the Israeli border to the Mediterranean Sea. It mirrors the function of the Netzarim Corridor in northern Gaza, which has effectively cut off Gaza City and its surroundings from the southern regions.
Netanyahu compared the Morag Corridor to the Philadelphi Corridor, a buffer zone on the Gaza-Egypt border that Israel seized control of in May 2023. These security zones are designed to split Gaza into isolated segments, severely restricting movement and making it harder for Hamas to regroup or resupply.
“We are cutting up the strip and increasing the pressure step by step so they will give us our hostages,” Netanyahu said.
Ceasefire Collapses, Hostage Talks Stall
The deployment follows the collapse of a January ceasefire, after which Israel resumed bombing campaigns in an attempt to force Hamas into accepting new terms for a hostage deal. That failed, and fighting resumed with intensity.
Israel has said it will not stop its offensive until all hostages are returned, Hamas lays down its arms, and the group is fully removed from Gaza. Hamas, however, insists on a permanent ceasefire, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and a complete Israeli withdrawal from the territory before negotiating further.
“Every missile, every drone strike proves Russia wants only war,” Zelenskyy said of the ongoing military strategy, calling for increased international pressure.
Trump-Netanyahu Meeting Raises Global Tensions
The announcement of the corridor deployment came shortly after a White House official confirmed that Prime Minister Netanyahu will meet President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday. It will be their second meeting since Trump returned to office in January.
In their last encounter, Trump floated a controversial plan to resettle displaced Palestinians outside Gaza and offered for the U.S. to lead redevelopment efforts in the region—a proposal condemned by Palestinians, Arab leaders, and international human rights groups.
Death Toll Rises After Rafah Strike
As military operations expand, the civilian toll continues to mount. On Friday, a Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih, Zelenskyy’s hometown, killed 18 people, including nine children, and wounded at least 72 others, local officials said.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that over 50,000 Palestinians have died in the conflict since it began in October. While the ministry does not distinguish between combatants and civilians, it says a majority of those killed were women and children. Israel claims it has killed approximately 20,000 Hamas fighters, though it has not provided independent verification.
Among the dead in recent weeks were 15 Palestinian medics, reportedly killed by Israeli forces and later bulldozed into a mass grave alongside their destroyed ambulances. Israel has not responded publicly to that allegation.
Israel Tightens Gaza Blockade
In a further show of force, Israel has halted all deliveries of food, fuel, and humanitarian aid to Gaza, aiming to increase pressure on Hamas. Human rights organizations have condemned the blockade as a violation of international law, arguing it amounts to collective punishment of Gaza’s civilian population.
The territory’s over 2 million residents, most of whom have been displaced multiple times, now face worsening humanitarian conditions. With borders sealed and basic resources scarce, the U.N. and aid groups warn of famine-like conditions, particularly in Rafah and northern Gaza.
Hostage Families Demand Ceasefire, Slam Netanyahu
At a weekly rally in Tel Aviv, families of hostages held in Gaza urged Israel to prioritize a ceasefire that would return their loved ones home — alive or deceased.
“Netanyahu is working hard to ensure our hostages die, rather than working hard to save their lives,” said Efrat Machikawa, niece of hostage Gadi Moses.
Of the 251 hostages taken on October 7, 59 remain in captivity, with just 24 confirmed to be alive, according to Israeli officials. The remainder have either been released in earlier truce deals or are presumed dead.
Israel Deploys Troops
You must Register or Login to post a comment.