Israel's Defense Minister has announced that the military will soon “expand vigorously” on their offensive over the bigger part of the gas.
Israel Katz also said that Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have completed the absorption of a “security zone” in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, dividing the cities of Rafa and Khan Eunice.
The Israeli military also issued an evacuation orders for Khan Eunis and the surrounding areas, saying that he was preparing to strike in response to the launch of Gaza shells, for which Hamas took responsibility.
Israel resumed its offensive against Hamas on March 18 after the collapse of a two -month end of fire.
Since then, it has seized large areas of gas, displacing hundreds of thousands of gazan once more.
The military has already seized land that is moving along the boundaries of the Palestinian territory, which it characterizes as a buffer zone for the prevention of attacks.
Israeli officials said that continuing offensive goals to put pressure on Hamas to release the 59 remaining hostages held in Gaza – 24 of which are thought to be alive.
On Saturday, Katz said that IDF has completed the absorption of the Morag Axis – a reference to a former Jewish settlement, located between Rafa and Khan Enis.
“The IDF has already completed the absorption of the Morag axis, which crosses the gas between Rafa and Khan Eunice and makes the entire area between the Axis of Philadelphia and part of the Morag part of the Israeli security zone,” he said.
Taking up the corridor effectively cuts the southern city of Rafa from Khan Eunice. Rafa makes up almost one fifth of gas.
Kat also warned that “IDF activity will soon expand vigorously to additional places in the bigger part of the gas” and people in these areas “will have to evacuate the battle areas.”
“This is the last point in removing Hamas and the release of the hostages and the end of war,” he said.
He added that the North Gaza regions, including the city of Bate Hanun and in the corridor of Netzarim – which cuts and central gas – are also evacuated, so that a “security area” can be expanded there.
“And in North Gaza – in Bate Hanun and other neighborhoods – residents are evacuated, the area is conquered and the security zone is expanding, including in the corridor of the disabled,” Katz said.
When he turned to comment, IDF told the BBC to refer to the Israeli Ministry of Defense.
Hamas said – in quotes quoted by AFP news agency, the offensive not only “kills defenseless civilians”, but also makes the fate of the hostages “uncertain”.
The UN Human Rights Service warned last month that the evacuation orders did not comply with the requirements of international law, accusing Israel that it did not take any measures to ensure accommodation of the affected or providing satisfactory hygiene, health, safety and nutrition.
The Israeli government said it was evacuating civilians to protect them from harm and use by Hamas as “human shields” in violation of international law.
Following the KAT announcement, the Israeli military issued an evacuation order for the residents of the southern city of Han Enis and its surrounding areas, stating that it was preparing to respond to shells fired from Gaza earlier on Saturday.
IDF said its air protection had captured three shells fired from the gas to the Israeli territory – Hamas's military wing later took responsibility for the attack. No injuries have been reported.
In Gaza, the Hamas Health Ministry said that by 13:00 local time (11:00 BST) on Saturday, 21 people were killed in the last 24 hours and 64 were injured.
The Israeli military launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response to an unprecedented cross -border attack on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and 251 others were taken hostage.
More than 50,933 people have been killed in Gaza ever since, according to the health ministry in Hamas.
Of these, 1563 were killed since March 18, when Israel restarted its offensive in the Gaza Strip, the ministry said.