Click to see full-size image. (The Israeli Defense Forces)
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) released on April 5 video footage showing the 36th Division “Ga’ash” entering the so-called Morag Corridor, located between the area of Rafah and the city of Khan Younis in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
The heavily-armed division entered the corridor area on April 2, following a night of intensive strikes and evacuation warnings.
The military said that it was operating in the Morag Corridor and in Rafah to demolish the remaining infrastructure of the Hamas Movement.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced earlier this week that the IDF would take over the Morag Corridor to further isolate Rafah on Gaza’s border with Egypt and mount more pressure on Hamas, which continues to hold 59 Israeli hostages.
The IDF has faced little to no resistance from Hamas and other Palestinian armed factions since renewing its offensive in Gaza on March 18, shattering a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement that was brokered by the United States, Egypt and Qatar last January.
Intensive Israeli strikes hit Gaza on April 5, killing at least 31 Palestinians in Rafah and Khan Younis, as well as in Gaza City in the northern part of the Strip.
In total, more than 1,200 people have been killed since Israel renewed its offensive in Gaza. In addition, some around 280,000 Palestinians were displaced by the ongoing round of fighting. Meanwhile, the total death toll from the war on the Palestinian side has also exceeded 50,600.
With the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Gaza, it was reported on April 5 that Egypt had submitted a proposal to renew the ceasefire in Gaza, along with a prisoner exchange.
Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported that Cairo “has put forward a new proposal regarding a ceasefire and prisoner exchange, aiming to bridge the gaps between Israel and Hamas.”
It noted that “the new proposal was submitted by Egypt within the past 24 hours to reach a consensus between Israel and Hamas.”
The broadcaster did not mention any terms or details. However, it said that the proposal falls somewhere between an earlier offer, which included the release of five living hostages, and Israel’s proposal, which conditioned the release of at least 11.
The success of the ongoing offensive in Gaza could encourage Israel to reject the new offer, and even demand the release of more hostages.
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