Parallel to the talks between Israel and mediators that are still ongoing today (Tuesday) in Cairo, the IDF continues to operate in the Gaza Strip to dismantle Hamas’s military and political infrastructure and weaken the terrorist organization.
In recent weeks, the IDF has been working to expand the Netzarim Corridor, which cuts across the Gaza Strip from the Karni Crossing in Israel to the sea. The significance of holding the Netzarim Corridor is twofold: first, to harm Hamas operatives and destroy infrastructure, and second, to ‘strangle’ the terrorist organization and apply military pressure to advance a hostage deal.
The expansion of the corridor is being carried out through strikes by the 252nd Division, clearing additional parts of the Gaza Strip used for terrorist infrastructure. The expansion not only allows for the targeting of Hamas but also preserves the military achievement and pushes the enemy further away from the soldiers. The forces raid additional areas where there is suspicion of militants being present, thereby constraining their movements, hitting them at strategic points, and forcing the terrorist organization to reconsider the advisability of refusing to come to the negotiating table.
Despite the enormous importance of the corridor, the current outline of a deal includes Israel’s withdrawal from it in the first stage. Nevertheless, the IDF continues to operate as usual and, as a tactical decision, continues to expand the corridor further and further. The expansion is carried out according to the combat conditions and the terrain, with some places allowing an expansion of only 2 kilometers, compared to other areas where the corridor can be expanded by no less than 4 kilometers.
After many soldiers were injured in recent times, the Southern Command commander visited the corridor and spoke with commanders and soldiers. Given the increase in casualties, he wanted to hear about the forces’ operational methods in the area and understand the problems as they appear on the ground.
Simultaneously, the IDF is conducting similar activities in the Rafah area, where the soldiers continue to destroy and clear underground infrastructures and expand the buffer zone along the Philadelphi Route.
The holding of the Philadelphi Route has also become a significant issue in the negotiations, due to Hamas’s, and apparently Egypt’s, refusal to accept any change in the situation before the war – a situation where goods and weapons were smuggled into the Gaza Strip without hindrance.
The goal of the current expansion is to create a kilometer-wide area along the 14 kilometers of the Philadelphi Route. Similar to the Netzarim Corridor, the main objective in Philadelphi is to push the enemy away and damage infrastructure by leveling the entire area.
Meanwhile, on the Egyptian side of the route, a new barrier is being constructed in coordination with the Egyptians. The barrier includes advanced identification components embedded along the border, including sensors.
Alongside the expansion activities in the Netzarim Corridor and the Philadelphi Route, the army continues to operate in the central Gaza Strip, which has not yet received deep treatment like the cities of Gaza, Khan Yunis, and Rafah, and still needs to be cleared of militants in certain parts. Yesterday, IDF forces distributed leaflets to residents of neighborhoods in Deir al-Balah, asking them to evacuate before IDF strikes in the area. At this moment, the 162nd Division continues to operate in the Rafah area, and in Netzarim, the 252nd Reserve Division. Meanwhile, the 98th Division has completed its activities.
