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Israeli Military Expands Operations in Rafah Amid Ongoing Conflict
The United Nations has reported that approximately 100,000 individuals have fled Rafah following an evacuation order issued by the Israeli military last month. In a recent statement, Israel’s Defence Minister announced plans to enlarge the security zones in Gaza, specifically including the southern city of Rafah in their strategic operations.
During a visit to the operational area, Defence Minister Israel Katz indicated that the military aims to leave Gaza in a more constricted and isolated state as a means of pressuring Hamas to release hostages. He noted that the Israeli military has already seized territory along the entire border of Palestinian lands, designating this area as a buffer zone to mitigate the risk of attacks.
The decision to expand security zones to encompass Rafah and adjacent regions, which account for nearly one-fifth of Gaza’s territory, follows an evacuation directive given to civilians and the establishment of a corridor meant to separate them from the nearby city of Khan Younis. According to the UN, about two-thirds of Gaza has been classified as “no-go” zones or under evacuation orders since the Israeli offensive against Hamas recommenced on March 18, after a two-month ceasefire ended.
Current estimates show that 390,000 Palestinians—approximately 19% of the total population of 2.1 million—have been displaced once again within Gaza, facing a dire situation with no safe havens. The UN has also raised alarms regarding the severe shortage of essential supplies, including food, medicine, and fuel, attributing this crisis to Israel’s blockade of humanitarian aid deliveries since early March.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had initiated a ground offensive in Rafah, which was home to around 280,000 residents before the conflict escalated, leaving much of the urban landscape devastated. The IDF recently secured a crucial land strip along the border with Egypt, known as the “Philadelphi Corridor,” claiming it was vital for preventing weapons smuggling and Hamas’s rearmament efforts.
During the earlier ceasefire that commenced in January, roughly 100,000 residents returned to their homes in Rafah following a military pullback. However, on March 31, soon after the resumption of hostilities, the IDF issued a comprehensive evacuation order that reportedly affected 97% of Rafah and its surrounding governorate, covering 64 square kilometers (25 square miles). Displaced individuals were directed towards tent camps located in the coastal al-Mawasi area, designated by the IDF as a “humanitarian zone.”
The area of Rafah was reportedly nearly deserted when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that troops were “seizing the Morag Corridor,” connecting Rafah to Khan Younis. He characterized this operation as a means to increase pressure on Hamas to release the remaining hostages, with 24 of them still believed to be alive.
In a statement released by his office, Defence Minister Katz reiterated the IDF’s mission, emphasizing their efforts to dismantle terrorist infrastructure while asserting that Gaza is becoming smaller and increasingly isolated due to military actions. He cautioned that should Hamas fail to release the hostages promptly, intensified military operations across Gaza would follow.
In remarks made to journalists accompanying him, Katz stated, “All of Rafah will be evacuated and turned into a security area. This is what we are doing now.” The IDF confirmed ongoing military operations in Rafah and along the Morag corridor, claiming to have eliminated several terrorists while dismantling their infrastructure.
According to Israeli military observers, there is a calculated strategy to direct Palestinian civilians toward the coast, allowing Israeli forces to concentrate their operations in urban settings to eliminate Hamas effectively. Local sources suggest that controlling aid deliveries to the coast would also enable the IDF to manage humanitarian assistance independently, without interference from Hamas or international aid organizations.
The UN highlighted numerous evacuation orders issued by the IDF over recent weeks, which encompassed nearly 131 square kilometers (51 square miles) of Gaza—about 36% of its total area. Additionally, a further 30% of the territory has been designated as no-go zones along the borders and through the Wadi Gaza river valley.
Last month, the UN’s human rights office expressed concern over the legality of these orders, claiming they did not meet international law standards and criticizing Israel for failing to provide shelter or adequate living conditions for those affected. In contrast, the Israeli government maintains that these evacuations are necessary to protect civilians from harm and to prevent their use as “human shields” by Hamas.
The current blockade imposed by Israel has also drawn condemnation from the UN, which asserts that it violates obligations under international law to ensure the needs of the civilian population are met and to allow the unhindered passage of humanitarian aid.
In a separate announcement, the IDF reported a successful strike in eastern Gaza City, which resulted in the death of a Hamas battalion commander believed to be orchestrating attacks from that area. According to local reports, this airstrike led to the destruction of a four-story building and claimed the lives of at least 29 individuals, including children.
The ongoing Israeli military campaign is a response to a surprise cross-border assault by Hamas on October 7, 2023, resulting in the loss of around 1,200 lives and the abduction of 251 individuals. Since then, over 50,880 fatalities have been recorded in Gaza, as reported by the Hamas-run health ministry.
Source
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