Defense Minister Katz says ‘Rafah will be evacuated, turned into security buffer’

Defense Minister Israel Katz visited Rafah on Wednesday, where he announced that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would establish full control of Rafah, from the Philadelphi Corridor along the border with Egypt, to the newly declared Morag Corridor, separating Rafah from Khan Younis. 

“All of Rafah will be evacuated and turned into a security area. This is what we are doing now," Katz announced during his visit. 

Katz was accompanied by Southern Command chief Maj.-Gen. Yaniv Asor and 36th Division Commander Brig.-Gen. Moran Omer, and received operational and intelligence briefings from commanders in the field. 

Three weeks after resuming military operations in the Gaza Strip, the IDF has not moved quickly into new areas, partially to allow the civilian population to evacuate, and out of concern for possible booby traps placed by Hamas during the previous ceasefire period. 

While direct confrontation with Hamas has been more limited than before the ceasefire, Israeli forces still encounter some terror cells and have eliminated terrorists, seized weapons, and destroyed terror infrastructure, including tunnels. 

An IDF official told Channel 12 that the military has observed Hamas fighters fleeing ahead of advancing IDF units, rather than engaging in combat. The IDF believes that Hamas' decision not to engage is only temporary and that the group is attempting to preserve its forces in case full-scale combat resumes.

On Wednesday evening, the IDF announced the destruction of a tunnel shaft in the Shabura region of Rafah, along with the seizure of a weapons cache. 

The military also said it had located major tunnels connecting Rafah and Khan Younis. By its own assessment, the IDF believes that throughout the war effort, it has destroyed only around 25% of the Hamas tunnel system under Gaza. Officials assess that several smuggling tunnels from Gaza into Egypt are still intact, which was part of the reason for Israel’s refusal to abandon the Philadelphi Corridor during the hostage-ceasefire deal. 

During his visit, Katz affirmed that Israel is still interested in a hostage deal, saying that the IDF is prepared to increase the pressure to bring about such a deal, or for a return to full combat, if the hostages are not released. 

“I came here today to strengthen the hands of my IDF commanders and soldiers who are fighting resolutely for the release of the hostages and the damage to Hamas's power. The IDF is eliminating terrorists, locating and thwarting terrorist infrastructures, and dismembering the Gaza Strip, even in places like the Morag Corridor where we have not operated to date,” Katz said.

“Many areas are being seized and annexed to the security zones of the State of Israel, leaving Gaza smaller and more isolated. If Hamas continues its refusal and does not release the hostages soon, the IDF will engage in intense fighting throughout Gaza until the hostages are released and Hamas is defeated,” he continued.

“At the same time, we are working to advance the plan for the voluntary emigration of Gaza residents in accordance with the vision of the US President, which we are working to realize,” Katz remarked.

On Wednesday evening, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Cabinet that Israel is in discussions with two countries about receiving Palestinian evacuees who wish to leave Gaza. 

Katz called on the Palestinian residents to help Israel defeat Hamas and release the hostages, if they want the war to end. 

“I appeal to the residents of Gaza: Eliminate Hamas and return the hostages – this is the only way to end the war,” he stated. 

Reports in Arab media affirmed the changing situation in Rafah. Egyptian officials told the Lebanese Al-Akhbar newspaper that the steps being communicated to the Egyptian army by the IDF indicate that Israel is prepared to escalate the conflict with Hamas, despite Egypt's attempt to reach another hostage-ceasefire deal. 

According to Egyptian sources, Israeli military officials informed their Egyptian counterparts of the IDF’s plan to deploy heavy equipment on the Palestinian side of the border in preparation for establishing a security buffer zone.