Egypt Daily News – The Israeli army announced on Saturday, April 12, 2025, that it has completed the encirclement of the city of Rafah in southern Gaza as part of a broader military strategy to expand its control over large parts of the enclave. The operation coincides with a massive wave of civilian evacuations from the area.
Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz stated that the military had secured control over the strategic Morag Corridor, which lies between Rafah and Khan Younis. “The entire area between the Philadelphi Route (along the Egyptian border) and Morag is now part of the Israeli security zone,” Katz said in an official statement. He added that the army will now expand its operations to “most parts of Gaza,” urging residents to evacuate active combat zones.
The announcement follows Israel’s earlier declaration on April 2 that its forces had begun advancing into the so-called Morag Axis, named after a former Israeli settlement located between Rafah and Khan Younis.
In a significant escalation, Katz also issued a direct call to Gaza’s residents, urging them to overthrow Hamas and help secure the release of Israeli hostages. “This is the final moment to topple Hamas, release the hostages, and end the war,” Katz said, as quoted by The Times of Israel. He added that those interested in leaving Gaza may voluntarily relocate abroad, in line with a proposal reportedly backed by the U.S. administration.
The encirclement of Rafah has triggered large-scale displacement, with hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fleeing the area—approximately 60 square kilometers in size and bordering Egypt to the south. Since Israel resumed its offensive on March 18, 2025, it has issued repeated evacuation warnings, pushing residents into increasingly crowded zones with limited access to basic resources and safety.
Meanwhile, tensions continued to flare on Saturday as the Israeli military reported intercepting three projectiles launched from southern Gaza. According to army spokesperson Avichay Adraee, Israeli air defenses successfully intercepted the rockets, and no injuries were reported. Sirens were activated in open areas surrounding Gaza as a precaution.
In a related development, Hamas’ military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for targeting the Israeli settlement of Nir Yitzhak with a barrage of short-range rockets (114mm caliber), according to Palestinian news agency Safa.
The latest developments mark a critical phase in the ongoing conflict, as Israel intensifies its efforts to dismantle Hamas and secure the release of hostages, while Palestinian civilians face escalating threats, displacement, and humanitarian crisis.
