Israel asserts control over a third of Gaza, while ceasefire discussions are ongoing.
On Wednesday, the Israeli military announced it is expanding the "Morag Corridor," a newly established dividing line in the southern Gaza Strip, designating approximately one-third of the area as "security zones" under complete Israeli military oversight.
TroibNews 
The Israeli military announced on Wednesday that it is expanding the "Morag Corridor," a new boundary in the southern Gaza Strip, transforming approximately one-third of the enclave into "security zones" fully controlled by Israeli forces.
An infographic video shared by the military illustrated the "Morag Corridor" stretching through an area between Rafah and Khan Younis, effectively separating Rafah from both Khan Younis and central Gaza.
In the footage, Khan Younis, the largest city in southern Gaza, appeared largely devastated, with only a handful of severely damaged structures remaining.
"As part of the operation, the IDF has achieved full operational control over several key areas and routes throughout Gaza. Approximately 30 percent of the strip's territory is now designated as an Operational Security Perimeter," the military stated.
Additionally, Israel has established the "Netzarim Corridor," a military buffer zone in central Gaza designed to isolate Gaza City and northern Gaza from the rest of the territory.
Since March 2, Israel has prohibited all humanitarian aid from entering Gaza. Following the end of a two-month ceasefire with Hamas on March 18, it resumed intense air and ground assaults on the enclave.
According to Gaza health authorities, the renewed Israeli attacks have resulted in the deaths of 1,652 Palestinians and injuries to 4,391 others, bringing the death toll in Gaza since the conflict began in October 2023 to 51,025, with 116,432 people injured.
Despite these developments, discussions regarding a ceasefire continue. On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed Israeli negotiators to "continue the steps" for the release of hostages still held in Gaza, as stated by his office.
"The prime minister issued an instruction for the continuation of the steps to advance the release of our hostages," the office said.
This update followed an assessment meeting with the negotiating team and security heads regarding the 59 hostages currently in Gaza.
However, no significant progress has been made in the ceasefire negotiations. Hamas has repeatedly indicated that calls for disarmament are a red line that will not be crossed and has insisted that Israeli troops must withdraw from Gaza as a condition of any permanent ceasefire.
"Any truce lacking real guarantees for halting the war, achieving full withdrawal, lifting the blockade and beginning reconstruction will be a political trap," Hamas stated on Wednesday.
Frederick R Cook for TROIB News
An infographic video shared by the military illustrated the "Morag Corridor" stretching through an area between Rafah and Khan Younis, effectively separating Rafah from both Khan Younis and central Gaza.
In the footage, Khan Younis, the largest city in southern Gaza, appeared largely devastated, with only a handful of severely damaged structures remaining.
"As part of the operation, the IDF has achieved full operational control over several key areas and routes throughout Gaza. Approximately 30 percent of the strip's territory is now designated as an Operational Security Perimeter," the military stated.
Additionally, Israel has established the "Netzarim Corridor," a military buffer zone in central Gaza designed to isolate Gaza City and northern Gaza from the rest of the territory.
Since March 2, Israel has prohibited all humanitarian aid from entering Gaza. Following the end of a two-month ceasefire with Hamas on March 18, it resumed intense air and ground assaults on the enclave.
According to Gaza health authorities, the renewed Israeli attacks have resulted in the deaths of 1,652 Palestinians and injuries to 4,391 others, bringing the death toll in Gaza since the conflict began in October 2023 to 51,025, with 116,432 people injured.
Despite these developments, discussions regarding a ceasefire continue. On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed Israeli negotiators to "continue the steps" for the release of hostages still held in Gaza, as stated by his office.
"The prime minister issued an instruction for the continuation of the steps to advance the release of our hostages," the office said.
This update followed an assessment meeting with the negotiating team and security heads regarding the 59 hostages currently in Gaza.
However, no significant progress has been made in the ceasefire negotiations. Hamas has repeatedly indicated that calls for disarmament are a red line that will not be crossed and has insisted that Israeli troops must withdraw from Gaza as a condition of any permanent ceasefire.
"Any truce lacking real guarantees for halting the war, achieving full withdrawal, lifting the blockade and beginning reconstruction will be a political trap," Hamas stated on Wednesday.
Frederick R Cook for TROIB News
