Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Wednesday that Israel is establishing a new security corridor across the Gaza Strip to intensify pressure on Hamas. The corridor, referred to as the Morag corridor, is expected to sever Rafah, a city in southern Gaza where Israel has ordered evacuations, from the rest of the territory. This move follows statements from Israel’s Defense Minister that large areas of Gaza would be seized and incorporated into security zones.

As Israeli forces escalate their offensive, airstrikes have killed more than 40 Palestinians, including women and children, according to Palestinian health officials. Israel has vowed to continue its nearly 18-month-long war with Hamas until the group releases the remaining hostages, disarms, and leaves the territory. The country ended a ceasefire in March and has since imposed a blockade on all imports of food, fuel, and humanitarian aid.

Netanyahu described the new security axis as the Morag corridor, named after a former Jewish settlement that once existed between Rafah and Khan Younis. This corridor is expected to function similarly to the Philadelphi corridor, located along Gaza’s southern border with Egypt, which has been under Israeli control since last May. Additionally, Israel has already established control over the Netzarim corridor, which divides northern Gaza, including Gaza City, from the rest of the region. Netanyahu stated that these measures are part of an effort to divide Gaza into sections, increasing pressure on Hamas to return the hostages.

In northern Gaza, an Israeli airstrike hit a UN building in Jabaliya refugee camp, killing 15 people, including nine children and two women, according to the Indonesian Hospital. The building, which was previously a medical clinic, had been converted into a shelter for displaced people, housing over 700 residents. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees confirmed that while their staff had warned the people about the dangers of staying, many had no alternative. The Israeli military claimed that the attack targeted Hamas militants operating within a command and control center.

The United Nations has reported that more than 60 percent of Gaza is now a "no-go" zone due to Israeli evacuation orders. Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to live in makeshift tents along the coastline or in the ruins of their destroyed homes. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has reaffirmed plans to seize more land to expand security zones and has urged the people of Gaza to expel Hamas and return the hostages, stating that this is the only way to end the war.

Netanyahu has also reiterated Israel’s intention to maintain long-term security control over Gaza after the war. He referenced former U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to encourage large-scale voluntary emigration of Palestinians from the territory, a plan that has been widely rejected by Palestinians as forced displacement. Human rights experts have warned that implementing such a strategy could violate international law. The ongoing hostage crisis remains a key issue. Hamas has stated that it will only release the remaining 59 hostages—24 of whom are believed to be alive—if Israel agrees to a prisoner exchange, a lasting ceasefire, and a full withdrawal from Gaza. Israel, however, insists that Hamas must surrender its weapons and leave the region.

Israel’s decision to continue its military operations has led to growing protests within the country. Many Israelis fear that the ongoing war is putting the hostages at greater risk. The Hostage Families Forum, which represents most of the captive families, has criticized the government’s approach and called for renewed diplomatic efforts to secure the hostages’ release. The group urged global leaders, including the Trump administration, which previously helped negotiate a ceasefire, to take action in facilitating an agreement.

Beyond the strike on the UN building in Jabaliya, Israeli airstrikes overnight killed another 28 people across Gaza. The Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis reported that the dead included five women, one of whom was pregnant, as well as two children. The Israeli military maintains that it targets Hamas militants and makes efforts to minimize civilian casualties, blaming Hamas for operating within densely populated areas. Late on Wednesday, two projectiles were fired from Gaza and were intercepted by Israeli defense systems, with no reported casualties or damage.

The war, which began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, has left Gaza in devastation. The attack resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths, mostly civilians, and the abduction of 251 hostages, many of whom have since been released through ceasefire deals and other negotiations. Israel has rescued eight living hostages and recovered the bodies of dozens more. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, over 50,000 Palestinians have died since the war began. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, while Israel claims that around 20,000 of those killed were Hamas fighters, though no evidence has been provided. The conflict has displaced nearly 90 percent of Gaza’s population at its peak, leaving much of the region in ruins.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from PTI.