The IDF has blasted through Rafah and is fast capturing and controlling the now destroyed Jewish village of Morag in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. Morag has strategic value as it lies between Rafah and Khan Yunis.
Journalist Amit Segal said the following about the carving out of a new corridor: “There appears to be two key goals here: pressuring Hamas into releasing hostages by seizing more territory, and creating the right conditions on the ground to enable voluntary emigration from Gaza.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu said the following:”Last night in the Gaza Strip, we changed gears. The IDF is taking territory, hitting terrorists, and destroying infrastructure. We are also doing something else: We are seizing the Morag Corridor. This will be the second Philadelphi, an additional Philadelphi Corridor.”
He explained that the reason for this is that “we are now dividing the Strip and increasing the pressure step by step, so that they will give us our hostages. And as long as they do not give them to us, the pressure will increase until they do.”
Netanyahu added: “We are determined to achieve the war’s goals, and we are working without rest and with a clear motive, and clear objective. And with G-d’s help and the help of our heroic soldiers – we will achieve it.”
Liberating Morag should be seen as the beginning of the end of Hamas’ rule. It is is the first time the IDF has been able to isolate Rafah and if Defense Minister Katz is to be believed, Israel has no plans to hand it back.