IDF finishes new 15 km. Magen Oz Corridor splitting critical Hamas-controlled city of Khan Yunis
The IDF on Wednesday announced that it had completed the new Magen Oz Corridor, splitting the critical Hamas middle-southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis.
Stretching 15 kilometers north from the Morag Corridor, which currently splits off Rafah from Khan Yunis, the new corridor announcement comes as Hamas and Israel say they have solved 90% of their disputes regarding a new ceasefire, other than the extent of the withdrawal of IDF forces during and after the deal.
Hamas has demanded that the IDF withdraw to the lines it held in early March, when the last ceasefire was still in place, leaving the IDF only a 700-1,100 meter security perimeter around Gaza, as well as the Philadelphi Corridor bordering with Egypt.
IDF General Staff and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir have been willing to accept these terms for over a week.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected these terms, insisting on keeping some aspect of the IDF presence at the Morag Corridor.
The timing of the announcement seemed certain to put further pressure on Hamas about additional facts on the ground, which Israel might be able to inject into the situation if a deal is not cut soon.
The corridor was established by 36th Division and the Golani Brigade
The 36th Division and the Golani Brigade carried out most of the work to establish the corridor, including destroying extensive Hamas positions and terror tunnels in the area.
In addition, the IDF said it had killed dozens of Hamas terrorists in the process of clearing the area.
Prior to the war, Khan Yunis was Hamas's second most crucial city, after Gaza City in northern Gaza.
Meanwhile, Hamas's Health Ministry said on Wednesday that IDF attacks killed 93 Palestinians and wounded 278 on Tuesday.
Hamas does not distinguish between civilians and its own fighters.
Likewise, the IDF has only been reporting vague numbers for how many Hamas terrorists it kills on a given day or week, without detailing the number of civilians killed.
Earlier in the war, some IDF estimates suggested that 40% of those killed were Hamas terrorists, and 60% of those killed were civilians, a percentage which is better than some other urban warfare conflicts.
But even IDF sources have acknowledged that in recent months, the percentage may be worse, with some accusing IDF Southern Command chief Maj.-Gen. Yaniv Asor, who took charge in March, of running a looser operation in that regard and taking probing mistaken killing of civilians less seriously.
Asor rejected those allegations but has also offered few details to contradict critics to date.
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