Israel introduced Saturday that its army has accomplished the institution of a brand new safety hall within the Gaza Strip, successfully taking full management over the southern metropolis of Rafah — which Israel had ordered evacuated — and chopping it off from the remainder of the Palestinian territory.
“The IDF has now accomplished the takeover of the Morag axis that crosses Gaza between Rafah and Khan Yunis and makes all the space between the Philadelphi axis and Morag a part of the Israeli safety zone,” Israeli Protection Minister Israel Katz mentioned in an announcement. “IDF exercise will quickly broaden strongly to further places all through most of Gaza and you’ll have to evacuate the combating zones.”
Over 1,500 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Israel ended the ceasefire on March 18. In whole, almost 51,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023.
Earlier this month, the Israel Protection Forces issued evacuation orders for big swaths of war-torn Gaza, together with elements of Khan Yunis and virtually all of Rafah.
The IDF has been increasing its operations in Gaza because it ended the ceasefire in March, earlier this month saying it can seize intensive territories. On April 2, Katz mentioned they may “seize massive areas that will likely be annexed to the safety zones of the State of Israel.”
Earlier this month, the Israel Protection Forces issued evacuation orders for big swaths of war-torn Gaza, together with elements of Khan Yunis and virtually all of Rafah.
This got here as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu introduced the institution of the so-called Morag Hall, describing it as “a second Philadelphi Hall” that will additional divide Gaza and enhance stress on Hamas to launch the remaining Israeli hostages.
The so-called Philadelphi Hall refers to a slim strip of land alongside Gaza’s border with Egypt that has been beneath Israeli management since Might 2024.
Palestinians flee Rafah in the direction of Khan Yunis within the southern Gaza Strip, on April 2, 2025.
Eyad Baba/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
The IDF mentioned Israeli troops had been working in some areas between Rafah and Khan Yunis the place they’d by no means operated beforehand and that the technique behind establishing the brand new safety hall was to separate Hamas fighters in Rafah from Khan Yunis, spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani mentioned at a press briefing final week.
The IDF mentioned on Saturday that it had “eradicated dozens of terrorists, dismantled underground tunnel routes and Hamas terror infrastructure, and accomplished the encirclement of Rafah,” within the final week and a half.
In an tackle to Palestinians in Gaza following the completion of the Morag axis, Katz mentioned the IDF is already persevering with to broaden its territory in Gaza.
A boy pulls a cart with mattresses and a lady pushes a wheelchair with belongings as Palestinians flee Rafah in the direction of Khan Yunis within the southern Gaza Strip, on April 2, 2025.
Eyad Baba/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
Footage launched by the Israeli Military says to point out Israeli troopers conducting operations in a location given as Tel Al-Sultan space, Rafah Governorate, Gaza, on this nonetheless picture taken from an undated handout video, launched April 2, 2025.
Israeli Military Handout by way of Reuters
“That is the final second to take away Hamas and launch all of the hostages and produce about an finish to the battle – IDF exercise will quickly broaden vigorously to further places all through most of Gaza,” he mentioned.
“In northern Gaza, residents are additionally evacuating in Beit Hanoun and different neighborhoods and the realm is being taken, increasing the safety zone and within the Netzarim Hall. IDF exercise will quickly broaden strongly to further places all through most of Gaza and you’ll have to evacuate the combating zones,” Katz mentioned.
Final week, the IDF mentioned at a press briefing that the one factor that may halt the IDF’s advance in Gaza is the discharge of hostages.
Footage launched by the Israeli Military says to point out Israeli troopers conducting operations in a location given as Tel Al-Sultan space, Rafah Governorate, Gaza, on this nonetheless picture taken from an undated handout video, launched April 2, 2025.
Israeli Military Handout by way of Reuters
Katz reiterated help for U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to forcibly expel Palestinians in Gaza and mentioned they’re working towards making it attainable for Palestinians in Gaza to “voluntarily transfer to numerous nations all over the world.”
In February, Trump departed from a long time of U.S. overseas coverage, saying that the U.S. would “clear out” the Gaza Strip and rebuild it, saying Palestinians dwelling there ought to depart — an announcement that the United Nations and allies, together with France and Germany, have known as a violation of worldwide regulation and mentioned it quantities to ethnic cleaning.
An image launched by the Israeli Military says to point out Israeli troopers conducting operations in a location given as Tel Al-Sultan space, Rafah Governorate, Gaza, on this handout picture launched April 2, 2025.
Israeli Military Handout by way of Reuters
Trump at one level threatened to withdraw help to Egypt and Jordan in the event that they did not agree to soak up Palestinians, although lower than 24 hours later, he mentioned, “I haven’t got to threaten that, I do not suppose. I feel we’re above that.”
Egypt and Jordan have each firmly opposed taking in forcibly displaced Palestinians.
