{"id":2422908,"date":"2025-04-12T21:22:02","date_gmt":"2025-04-13T01:22:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/israel-cuts-off-gazas-southern-city-of-rafah-and-vows-to-vigorously-expand-in-the-territory-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-04-12T21:24:19","modified_gmt":"2025-04-13T01:24:19","slug":"israel-cuts-off-gazas-southern-city-of-rafah-and-vows-to-vigorously-expand-in-the-territory-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/israel-cuts-off-gazas-southern-city-of-rafah-and-vows-to-vigorously-expand-in-the-territory-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Israel cuts off Gaza\u2019s southern city of Rafah and vows to \u2018vigorously\u2019 expand in the territory &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">38<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fisrael-cuts-off-gazas-southern-city-of-rafah-and-vows-to-vigorously-expand-in-the-territory-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2422908&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>on Saturday, Israel announced the completion of a new security corridor that isolates the southern city of rafah from the rest of Gaza, as it plans to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/israels-new-war-cabinet-vows-to-wipe-hamas-off-the-face-of-the-earth\/\" title=\"Israel&#039;s new ... cabinet pledges to eradicate ... completely.\">intensify military operations<\/a> throughout the region.The Israeli military urged Palestinians to evacuate following a series of orders aimed at preparing for ground attacks,exacerbating the humanitarian crisis as the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">population faces acute shortages due<\/a> to a blockade on food,fuel,and humanitarian aid imposed by the Israeli government.<\/p>\n<p>Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz emphasized the rapid expansion of military activities in Gaza,calling for the removal of Hamas and the release of hostages. The corridor, named Morag, is meant to increase Israeli control over Gaza, which rights groups have criticized as a war crime due to its effects on the civilian population. Humanitarian conditions are dire,with many displaced Palestinians living in makeshift camps after repeated evacuations. <\/p>\n<p>As violence escalates, the situation remains critical, with rising casualties reported, and demands for the return of hostages growing in urgency. Israeli strikes continue to claim lives in Gaza,intensifying international scrutiny and concern over the humanitarian implications of the ongoing conflict.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Israel cuts off Gaza&rsquo;s southern city of Rafah and vows to &lsquo;vigorously&rsquo; expand in the territory<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2081135\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) &mdash;<\/strong> Israel announced Saturday it had completed construction of a new security corridor cutting off the southern city of Rafah from the rest of <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gaza\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Gaza<\/a>, and the military said it would soon expand &ldquo;vigorously&rdquo; in most of the small coastal territory.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Palestinians\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Palestinians<\/a> were further squeezed into shrinking areas.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3378767\/germany-financial-capital-traditional-water-houses\/\">In Germany&rsquo;s financial capital, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/in-germanys-financial-capital-traditional-water-houses-bring-people-of-all-classes-together-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"In Germany\u2019s financial capital, traditional water houses bring people of all classes together - Washington Examiner\">traditional water houses bring people<\/a> of all classes together<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3378684\/roof-collapse-jet-set-club-dominican-republic-killed-221\/\">What to know about the roof collapse at an iconic club in the Dominican Republic that killed 221<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3378481\/zimbabwe-compensating-white-farmers-land-seizures\/\">Zimbabwe begins compensating white farmers affected by often-violent land seizures<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;Activity will expand rapidly to additional locations throughout most of Gaza and you will have to evacuate the fighting zones,&rdquo; Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement, without saying where Palestinians were meant to go.<\/p>\n<p>The statement urged Palestinians to remove <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/hamas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Hamas <\/a>and release the remaining hostages, saying: &ldquo;This is the only way to stop the war.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Israeli troops were deployed&nbsp;last week to the new security corridor referred to as Morag, the name of a Jewish settlement that once stood between Rafah and Khan Younis, after the army ordered sweeping evacuations covering most of Rafah &mdash; an indication it could soon launch another major ground operation.<\/p>\n<p>The Rafah municipality in a statement called Israel&rsquo;s actions a &ldquo;flagrant breach of international legitimacy.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Israel has vowed to seize large parts of Gaza to pressure Hamas to release the remaining 59 hostages, 24 of them believed to be alive, and accept proposed new ceasefire terms.<\/p>\n<p>Prime Minister <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/benjamin-netanyahu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Benjamin Netanyahu<\/a>&lsquo;s government has also imposed&nbsp;a monthlong blockade&nbsp;on food, fuel, and humanitarian aid that has left the territory&rsquo;s roughly 2 million Palestinians facing acute shortages as supplies dwindle &mdash; a tactic that rights groups say is a war crime.<\/p>\n<p>Israel has claimed that enough supplies entered Gaza during the two-month ceasefire that it shattered last month. Aid groups have disputed that.<\/p>\n<p>Netanyahu has said Morag would be &ldquo;a second&nbsp;Philadelphi corridor,&rdquo; referring to the Gaza side of the border with Egypt farther south, which has been under Israeli control since May 2024. Israel has also reasserted control of the Netzarim corridor, which cuts off Gaza&rsquo;s northern third from the rest of the territory.<\/p>\n<p>The corridors, coupled with a buffer zone that Israel has razed and expanded, give it more than&nbsp;50% control of the territory.<\/p>\n<p>Katz said Palestinians interested in &ldquo;voluntarily&rdquo; relocating to other countries would be able to as part of a&nbsp;proposal by U.S. President <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Donald Trump<\/a>. Palestinians have rejected the proposal and expressed&nbsp;their determination to remain in their homeland.<\/p>\n<p>Trump and Israeli officials have not said how they would respond if Palestinians refuse to leave Gaza. But Human Rights Watch and other groups say the plan would amount to &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cori-bush-trails-challenger-a-week-ahead-of-house-primary-poll-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Cori Bush trails challenger a week ahead of House primary: Poll - Washington Examiner\">ethnic cleansing&#038;rdquo<\/a>; &mdash; the forcible relocation of the civilian population of an ethnic group from a geographic area.<\/p>\n<p>Many Palestinians have been crowding into squalid tent camps or the rubble of their previous homes, often displacing multiple times in response to Israel&rsquo;s evacuation orders since the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, killed some 1,200 people, many of them civilians, and sparked the war.<\/p>\n<p>Israel on Saturday ordered the evacuation of areas east of Khan Younis ahead of an attack. Military spokesman Avichay Adraee added that militants had fired rockets into Israel from these areas. In the evening, several neighborhoods in Nuseirat in central Gaza were told to evacuate after Israel said it had intercepted a projectile from the territory.<\/p>\n<p>Hamas has said the bombardment poses risks to the hostages as well. On Saturday, the family of the&nbsp;last living American held in Gaza&nbsp;responded to the release of a new video showing Edan Alexander speaking under duress.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;When you sit down to mark&nbsp;Passover, remember that this is not a holiday of freedom as long as Edan and the other 58 hostages are not home,&rdquo; the family said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>Families and supporters again rallied in Tel Aviv for a deal to bring everyone home.<\/p>\n<p>Israeli strikes across Gaza continued, killing at least 21 people in the last 24 hours, according to Gaza&rsquo;s Health Ministry, which doesn&rsquo;t distinguish between civilians and combatants but says most of the over 50,000 Palestinians killed in the war have been women and children.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The ministry said at least 1,500 people have been killed since Israel&rsquo;s surprise bombardment resumed the war last month.<\/p>\n<p>Israel says it has killed around 20,000 terrorists in the war, without providing evidence.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2081135\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2081135\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Israel isolates Rafah and plans to expand military operations<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":136,"featured_media":2422909,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/israel-rafah-security-corridor.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[5237,12432,20083,4671,53346],"class_list":["post-2422908","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-conflict","tag-expansion","tag-gaza","tag-israel","tag-rafah"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/israel-rafah-security-corridor.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2422908","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/136"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2422908"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2422908\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2422912,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2422908\/revisions\/2422912"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2422909"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2422908"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2422908"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2422908"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}