Rafah, Gaza – April 13, 2025
The Israeli military announced it has fully encircled Rafah in southern Gaza, intensifying its ongoing offensive against Hamas with the capture of the strategic Morag Axis—an area situated between Rafah and Khan Younis.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the 36th Division has now secured the Morag route, effectively separating the two southern cities as part of a broader military strategy. This move follows the re-launch of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza on March 18, following a ceasefire that had been in place since January.
The renewed operation has triggered widespread evacuations, with hundreds of thousands of Palestinians forced to flee Rafah—a densely populated area near the Egyptian border. These evacuations are part of what the IDF describes as efforts to minimize civilian casualties, although humanitarian organizations warn of a rapidly shrinking safe zone within the enclave.
The escalation follows the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israel that resulted in 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages, according to Israeli sources. In response, Israel launched a full-scale offensive, which has led to the deaths of over 50,000 Palestinians, as reported by Gaza’s health authorities. The majority of Gaza’s population is now displaced, with widespread destruction across the territory.
Israel maintains that its operations will continue until all remaining 59 hostages are released and Hamas is dismantled. However, Hamas insists that hostage release must be part of a broader agreement to end the war, rejecting demands to surrender its weapons.
A Hamas delegation is expected in Cairo for talks on potential ceasefire proposals, though no deal has yet been reached.
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