Israeli forces have reportedly completed the encirclement of Rafah, a city in the southern Gaza Strip, as part of an ongoing military operation. The maneuver is part of a broader plan to seize more areas within the enclave, leading to large-scale evacuations among the Palestinian population.
The Israeli military has issued multiple evacuation warnings to residents in Rafah, prompting hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to flee their homes. The city’s proximity to the Egyptian border to the south and the Mediterranean Sea to the west has led to a significant concentration of displaced individuals in an increasingly limited area.
According to military statements, Israeli troops have established control over a strategic corridor known as the Morag Axis, named after a former Israeli settlement that once existed between Rafah and Khan Younis in southern Gaza. “Over the past 24 hours, our forces have completed the establishment of the Morag route, effectively separating Rafah and Khan Younis,” the military announced.
The ongoing conflict escalated following an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Israeli authorities reported that approximately 1,200 people were killed, and 251 individuals were taken hostage during the incident.
Since the onset of the offensive, health officials in Gaza have reported significant casualties and widespread displacement. The majority of the population has been affected, with substantial damage inflicted upon infrastructure and homes throughout the region.
Israel has stated that the military campaign will continue until all hostages are released and Hamas’s operational capabilities are dismantled. Conversely, Hamas has indicated it will release hostages only as part of a comprehensive agreement to end the conflict and has resisted calls to disarm.
Negotiations are ongoing, with a Hamas delegation expected to visit Cairo to discuss potential truce proposals, according to sources within the group. The international community continues to call for de-escalation and the protection of civilians amid the ongoing hostilities.
