Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Saturday that the Israeli Defense Forces IDF has seized control of a key route through southern Gaza, effectively turning Rafah into an "Israeli security zone."
In a statement, Katz addresses Gazans, saying: 1. "This is the last chance to banish Hamas 2. release all hostages, 3. and stopping the war."
Soon, he continued, Israeli operations will spread to other regions in "most of Gaza's territory."
Katz's statement comes after Haaretz reported earlier this week that the Israeli military is preparing to incorporate Rafah and its surrounding neighborhoods into the buffer zone it is establishing along the border.
The area, located between the Philadelphi route to the south and the Morag route to the north, was home to around 200,000 Palestinians before the war. In recent weeks, however, it has been left almost entirely deserted following widespread destruction caused by the Israeli military.
The defense minister added in his statement that the Netzarim corridor across Gaza's center is also being expanded, with "more territory seized."
Katz also said: 1. "willful passage" to other countries will be allowed to "all those interested," 2. and it will be done "in accordance with the US president's vision, which we seek to realize."
