Israel to Broaden Military Actions Across Gaza: Defence Minister Katz
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Synopsis
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced plans for an extensive military operation in Gaza, urging residents to evacuate. The IDF has encircled Rafah and established the Morag Corridor while responding to rocket attacks. Allegations have surfaced regarding Israel's use of water as a weapon, as humanitarian crises escalate amid ongoing conflict.
Key Takeaways
- Israel plans to expand military operations in Gaza.
- Residents urged to evacuate due to impending actions.
- Establishment of the Morag Corridor enhances IDF control.
- Allegations of water being used as a weapon against Gazans.
- Significant humanitarian crisis reported in Gaza.
Jerusalem, April 13 (NationPress) The Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced that Israel plans to broaden its military actions across most of the Gaza Strip. He urged residents of Gaza to evacuate in light of the anticipated operations, according to a report by the Xinhua news agency.
Katz mentioned that for those interested, voluntary migration to several countries could be an option under the plan being facilitated by Washington, referencing US President Donald Trump's contentious relocation proposal for Gaza inhabitants.
"This is the final chance to eradicate Hamas, free all Israeli hostages, and conclude the conflict," Katz emphasized.
Earlier that day, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated in a release that it had completely surrounded the city of Rafah in southern Gaza by establishing the Morag Corridor, a strategic route designed to segregate Rafah from Khan Younis.
The IDF indicated it would enhance its operational authority over the corridor to execute counter-terrorism missions in the vicinity. By controlling this critical route, the Israeli military transformed the region between the Morag Corridor and the Philadelphi Corridor along the Egyptian border into a segment of its security perimeter.
On the same day, the IDF reported that its Air Force intercepted three rockets launched from Gaza aimed at southern Israel.
The rocket fire prompted sirens in open areas adjacent to Gaza, although no injuries were reported, as per the statement.
Following these rocket attacks, IDF Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee stated that Israel would respond with significant force to any area from which rockets are launched and instructed residents in the Khan Younis region to relocate westward to designated humanitarian zones located in the Al-Mawasi area.
Evacuations are also taking place in northern Gaza, as the military buffer zone expands around the Netzarim Corridor in central Gaza, Adraee added.
Additionally, the Hamas-operated Gaza media office accused Israel of employing water as "a weapon of war" to perpetrate "a crime of slow mass killing" against Gaza's population.
They alleged that Israel had destroyed over 90 percent of Gaza's water and sanitation infrastructure, obstructing technical teams from accessing the area to repair damaged systems, targeting humanitarian workers, and hindering the supply of electricity and fuel necessary for wells and desalination facilities, among other issues.
Since March 2, Israel has barred all humanitarian aid from entering Gaza. The country concluded a two-month ceasefire with Hamas on March 18 and resumed lethal air and ground assaults on the enclave.
On Friday, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East issued a dire warning regarding the rapidly dwindling essential supplies in Gaza.
The renewed Israeli military actions have resulted in the deaths of 1,563 Palestinians and injuries to 4,004 others, according to Gaza health authorities on Saturday, reporting that the total death toll in the enclave since the conflict reignited in October 2023 has escalated to 50,933, with 116,045 injured.
