The purpose is to cut off Rafah from the rest of the Gaza Strip to make it difficult for the terrorist-stamped Hamas and stop, among other things, arms transports, writes The Jerusalem Post.
It is unclear how large the forces deployed and exactly where the corridor is located.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Wednesday that the so-called Morag corridor would be established between Rafah and Khan Younis. Morag refers to a Jewish settlement that was previously located in the area.
"We increase the pressure"
Israel has since earlier regained control of the Netzarim corridor, which separates the northern third of Gaza, including Gaza City, from the rest of the Strip.
We are dividing the Strip, and we are increasing the pressure step by step to get them (Hamas) to return our hostages, said Netanyahu on Wednesday.
The Israeli military has since Friday taken control of several areas in Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahia in the north, writes The Jerusalem Post.
Israeli aircraft and artillery attacked targets in Rafah, Khan Yunis, Gaza City, Shujaiyya, and Beit Hanoun overnight Saturday, according to the newspaper.
Video with hostages
Meanwhile, Hamas' armed branch, the al-Qassam brigades, released a video on Saturday featuring two Israeli hostages. The two men describe in the film how they survived an alleged Israeli air strike, reports AFP. In the two-minute clip, one of the men is seen with a bandage on his cheek and hand.
According to Israeli media, the two men were taken away in connection with the terrorist attack on the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023.
