Sat Apr 12 11:51:50 UTC 2025: ## Israel Completes Gaza Corridor Construction, Intensifies Offensive

**JERUSALEM, April 12, 2025** – Israel announced the completion of a new corridor near Rafah, effectively severing the southern city from the rest of the Gaza Strip and tightening its control over the besieged territory. This move, coupled with ongoing airstrikes and a month-long blockade, has left approximately 2 million Palestinians facing severe shortages of food, fuel, and humanitarian aid.

The Israeli military stated that troops have “completed the encirclement of Rafah,” deploying to the Morag corridor, a formerly Jewish settlement. This action follows sweeping evacuation orders issued for much of Rafah, signaling a potential major ground operation. Israel aims to seize more Palestinian land to pressure Hamas into releasing the remaining 59 hostages.

Defense Minister Israel Katz warned of an intensified offensive across Gaza, urging Palestinians to evacuate combat zones and remove Hamas. He claimed Hamas leaders are using the civilian population as hostages while residing abroad in luxury. Katz also mentioned a proposal, jointly developed with U.S. President Donald Trump, for the “voluntary” relocation of Palestinians to other countries— a plan vehemently rejected by Palestinians and condemned by Human Rights Watch as potential ethnic cleansing.

At least 21 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes in the past 24 hours, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Further evacuations were ordered east of Khan Younis ahead of anticipated attacks.

The current offensive, restarted in March after a brief ceasefire, is intended to continue until the hostages are freed and Hamas is eliminated from Gaza. Hamas, however, insists on a comprehensive deal to end the war and has rejected demands to disarm. A Hamas delegation is expected in Cairo to discuss potential truce proposals. The conflict, which began with a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, has already claimed the lives of over 50,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.

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