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Deadly Israeli Airstrike Hits Gaza Amid Rafah Concerns
An Israeli airstrike on a residential building in northern Gaza has resulted in at least 23 fatalities, according to reports. These reports also indicate that the Israeli military is making preparations to take control of Rafah in its entirety, as part of a recently declared security zone.
Gaza City Bombing Details
Medical personnel at al-Ahli hospital reported that Wednesday’s bombing of a four-story structure in Shijaiyah, a suburb of Gaza City, resulted in the deaths of at least eight women and children. Rescue teams continued their search for survivors into the night. The Israeli military stated that the strike was aimed at a high-ranking Hamas operative.
Displacement and Casualties Mount
The United Nations (UN) states that almost 400,000 individuals have been displaced from their residences or shelters in Gaza since Israel ended a two-month ceasefire with Hamas. This cessation of ceasefire was marked by the halting of aid, food, and fuel on March 2nd, followed by a resumption of extensive bombardment two weeks later. Local health authorities report that since then, there have been 1,500 deaths and 3,700 injuries.
Hamas Rocket Volley
Earlier this week, Hamas launched its most intense barrage of rockets into Israel since the breakdown of the ceasefire. Ten projectiles were directed towards the southern city of Ashkelon, resulting in injuries to 12 individuals.
Renewed Military Campaign and Evacuation Orders
Israeli officials assert that the renewed military operation is intended to exert pressure on Hamas to release Israeli hostages. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have issued widespread evacuation directives, coinciding with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pledge to “divide up” and take control of significant portions of the territory.
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Plans for “Morag Corridor” and Rafah
On Wednesday, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that the IDF is planning to integrate the entire city of Rafah and its adjacent areas—constituting one-fifth of the Gaza Strip—into the proposed “Morag corridor” extending between Rafah and Khan Younis. This action would sever Gaza‘s connection to Egypt and transform the region into an enclave fully encircled by Israel.
Concerns over Displacement and Control
This report has reignited concerns about the potential for permanent displacement of the Gaza Strip’s 2.3 million inhabitants and heightened anxieties that Israel aims to establish lasting dominance over the Palestinian territory.
Context of the Gaza Conflict
The ongoing war in Gaza was initiated by the Hamas assault on Israel on October 7, 2023. Israel states that this attack resulted in 1,200 fatalities, primarily civilians, and the capture of 250 individuals. Israel‘s subsequent military campaign has, according to Gaza’s health ministry, caused over 50,000 deaths in Gaza, with the majority being non-combatants.
Mediation Efforts and Stance of Both Sides
Mediators have been engaged in efforts to broker a tentative agreement between the involved parties, aiming to reinstate a pause in the conflict, secure the release of hostages, and pave the way for discussions on ending the hostilities. However, Benjamin Netanyahu, facing pressure from right-wing political allies, maintains that Israel will not consent to a ceasefire until Hamas is vanquished. Conversely, Hamas insists on the cessation of hostilities prior to releasing the remaining 59 hostages in their custody, of whom 24 are believed to be living.
Netanyahu’s US Visit and Trump’s Proposal
This week, Netanyahu visited the United States—Israel‘s principal political and military ally—to confer with Donald Trump. Trump has expressed a desire for the war to conclude and has proposed the expulsion of Gaza‘s population, either through voluntary or involuntary means. While Israel has shown acceptance of Trump‘s proposition, the wider Middle East and the international community have declined to consider this notion.
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