Israel forces surround Rafah in a bid to further isolate the territory

Israel’s military has moved into a new “security corridor” stretching across southern Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed the newly established Morag Corridor on Wednesday, hinting it would isolate Rafah—currently under evacuation orders—from the rest of Gaza.

A statement from the Israeli military on Saturday confirmed that troops from the 36th Division are now stationed within this corridor. Maps released by Israeli media show the corridor cutting through Gaza’s narrow coastal strip, running from east to west.

Named after a once-existing illegal Jewish settlement, Morag lies between Rafah and Khan Younis, and Netanyahu suggested the corridor would create a buffer zone between the two cities. Critics, however, have quickly labelled it a land grab.

Israel has also reclaimed control over the Netzarim Corridor, which effectively isolates Gaza City and the northern third of the Strip from the southern regions. The Netzarim and Philadelphi corridors form an uninterrupted route from the Israeli border to the Mediterranean Sea.