IDF says completed takeover of Morag axis
\n GAZA CITY
\nIsrael said on Saturday its military had completed the takeover of a new corridor in southern Gaza, advancing its efforts to seize large parts of the war-battered Palestinian territory.
\nIt also announced a sweeping evacuation order for tens of thousands of residents of Khan Yunis and surrounding areas in southern Gaza as it launched strikes after projectiles were fired from there.
\nThe seizure of the \u201cMorag axis\u201d came as a Hamas official told AFP the group expected \u201creal progress\u201d towards a ceasefire deal to end the Gaza war, ahead of talks with Egyptian mediators later Saturday.
\n\u201cThe IDF (military) has now completed its takeover of the Morag axis, which crosses Gaza between Rafah and Khan Yunis, turning the entire area between the Philadelphi Route (along the border with Egypt) and Morag into part of the Israeli security zone,\u201d Defence Minister Israel Katz said, addressing Gaza residents.
\n\u201cSoon, IDF operations will intensify and expand to other areas throughout most of Gaza, and you will need to evacuate the combat zones.
\n\u201cNow is the time to rise up, remove Hamas, and release all the Israeli hostages \u2014 this is the only way to end the war.\u201d Katz said the military was also taking over several areas in northern Gaza and the \u201csecurity zone is being expanded, including in the Netzarim Corridor\u201d.
\nSince a ceasefire collapsed in mid-March, Israel\u2019s renewed offensive has displaced hundreds of thousands of people as the military seizes large areas of Gaza. Israeli officials including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have repeatedly said the ongoing assault aims to pressure Hamas into freeing the remaining 58 hostages it holds.
\nHamas said the offensive not only \u201ckills defenceless civilians but also makes the fate of the occupation\u2019s prisoners (hostages) uncertain\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
IDF says completed takeover of Morag axis GAZA CITY Israel said on Saturday its military had completed the takeover of a new corridor in southern Gaza, advancing its efforts to seize large parts of the war-battered Palestinian territory. It also announced a sweeping evacuation order for tens of thousands of residents of Khan Yunis and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-472329","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n