IDF Encircles Rafah as Israel Urges Palestinians to Dismantle Hamas

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IDF Encircles Rafah as Israel Urges Palestinians to Dismantle Hamas

 

On April 12, 2025, the Israel Defense Forces declared full control over the Morag Corridor in the southern Gaza Strip, effectively severing Rafah from Khan Younis and completing the encirclement of Gaza's southernmost city. According to the IDF, the 36th Division now controls the Morag Corridor, while the Gaza Division is stationed along the Philadelphi Corridor, a strategic strip adjacent to the Egypt-Gaza border.

 

In a forceful statement issued Saturday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz called on Palestinians to take decisive action against Hamas. “This is the final moment to remove Hamas and release the hostages and bring about an end to the war,” Katz said. He further warned that “intensive IDF activity will soon expand to additional places in most of Gaza, and you will have to evacuate the combat zones.”

 

 

The IDF also confirmed that three rockets fired from Gaza toward the Israeli border town of Nir Yitzhak were successfully intercepted. While no injuries were reported and the rockets landed in open areas, the attack prompted a swift response. In retaliation, the IDF issued an evacuation order for residents in parts of Khan Younis. The order was accompanied by a map shared on X (formerly Twitter) by IDF Arabic-language spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee, who described it as a “final warning” ahead of planned strikes in the area.

 

Following earlier warnings issued nearly two weeks ago, the military now plans to operate in previously untouched areas of Rafah to root out remaining Hamas fighters. This push forms part of a larger effort to expand the IDF's buffer zone in southern Gaza, which will eventually stretch from the Egyptian border to the outskirts of Khan Younis. When completed, the zone will encompass all of Rafah, amounting to roughly 20 percent of the Gaza Strip.

 

Highlighting the humanitarian and political complexities of the conflict, Katz accused Hamas leadership of betraying the Palestinian people. “Hamas leaders are hiding in tunnels with their families and in luxury hotels abroad with billions in their bank accounts and are using you as hostages,” he said. “It is time to stand up and remove Hamas and release all the Israeli hostages. This is the only way to end the war.”

 

In the past ten days, as part of its operations in the Morag Corridor, the IDF reported killing dozens of Hamas fighters and destroying significant parts of the group’s military infrastructure, including tunnel networks. The military’s momentum signals a deepening of its campaign in Gaza, with further expansion imminent.

 

Based on a report by BBC | TOI  2025-04-12