Latest news with #KhanYounisBrigade
L'Orient-Le Jour
5 days ago
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Israel establishes new corridor splitting southern Gaza's Khan Younis into east and west
BEIRUT — The Israeli army said early Wednesday it had completed a new military-controlled route through southern Gaza, a roughly 15-kilometer corridor that cuts off all residential areas east of Khan Younis from those to the west. The route, named "Magen Oz," is intended to disrupt Hamas operations and "defeat the Khan Younis Brigade," the army claimed. The move comes as Israel seeks to increase pressure on Hamas during truce negotiations in Doha, Qatar, which have been ongoing since July 6. The announcement comes amid a surge in Hamas ground attacks on Israeli forces in southern Gaza in recent days. Magen Oz is the latest in a network of military corridors Israel has built and it controls across Gaza in recent years and during the war. Others include Kissoufim, which runs through central Gaza; Netzarim, which splits the enclave into north and south; the Philadelphi corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border; and Morag, which divides the strip east to west. Kissoufim was reopened on Nov. 12, 2024, following international pressure to allow more humanitarian aid into southern Gaza. But the remaining corridors remain restricted and are key to Israel's military operations. Netzarim, established March 2024, and Morag, completed in April 2025, have carved Gaza into five sections, enabling the Israeli army to monitor and control movement in all directions. Announcing Morag's creation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military was "taking control of the territory, striking terrorists and destroying infrastructure," in a bid to secure the return of the hostages taken on Oct. 7. The Philadelphi corridor, seized by Israel in May 2024 in violation of the 1978 Camp David accords, was the last Gaza crossing not previously under Israeli control. It was captured, Israel said, to block potential Hamas operations along the border with Egypt.
UAE Moments
6 days ago
- Politics
- UAE Moments
Israel Opens New Military Corridor in Southern Gaza
Israel has opened a new military corridor in southern Gaza, known as the Magen Oz corridor, amid its ongoing offensive against Hamas. Stretching approximately 15 kilometers, the corridor runs east to west through Khan Younis, effectively bisecting the city. This new development is part of a broader Israeli strategy to fragment Gaza into smaller zones, allowing for tighter military control and increased pressure on Hamas forces operating in the region. The Magen Oz corridor links up with the pre-existing Morag Corridor, helping to isolate Khan Younis from Rafah and other surrounding areas. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have stated that the corridor's purpose is to significantly restrict the movement of Hamas militants, particularly the Khan Younis Brigade, and to dismantle their infrastructure. The operation to establish the corridor was carried out by the IDF's 36th Division, which includes elite units like the 188th Armored Brigade and the Golani Infantry Brigade. These forces reportedly engaged in intense combat during the clearing operations, targeting underground tunnels and militant hideouts. The success of this maneuver means that Israel now operates four major military corridors in Gaza—Netzarim, Philadelphi, Morag, and now Magen Oz—further tightening its grip on the territory. While the strategic purpose of the Magen Oz corridor is clear from a military perspective, the humanitarian fallout has raised serious concerns. Thousands of Palestinian civilians displaced by the conflict now face even more limited access to aid and safe zones. The division of Khan Younis adds to the already chaotic landscape, making the delivery of humanitarian assistance increasingly difficult. Twenty-one Palestinians were killed on Wednesday, July 16, when gas was fired into the crowd, causing a crush at an aid center in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, according to the enclave's Health Ministry. Israel's use of corridor systems in Gaza is also being viewed as a form of political leverage. With ceasefire talks stalling, the increasing fragmentation of the territory may serve to pressure Hamas into negotiations under less favorable terms. The opening of the new military corridor follows the Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz's announcement of a plan for a concentration camp in Rafah. The opening of the Magen Oz corridor not only signals a significant shift in the tactical landscape of Gaza but also the political and humanitarian dynamics at play. As Israel continues to build and enforce these military routes, the international community is watching closely, weighing the balance between security objectives and humanitarian responsibilities. The long-term impact of these corridors will depend not just on military outcomes but also on the success of diplomatic efforts and adherence to international law.
The National
6 days ago
- Health
- The National
Israel opens new military corridor in southern Gaza
Israel says it has created an army-controlled route through the Gazan city of Khan Younis, the latest in a series of corridors to cut the strip into sections. The corridor, called Magen Oz, stretches about 15km between eastern and western Khan Younis, according to a military statement on Wednesday. 'This corridor serves as a key component in applying pressure on Hamas and achieving the decisive defeat of its Khan Younis Brigade,' it added. The route further divides the south of the strip, in which large numbers of civilians are sheltering after being displaced from the north and centre. The new corridor intersects with the Morag Corridor, which cuts off Khan Younis from the far south of the strip. Israel has used such corridors throughout the Gaza war to exert control over the strip and prevent the movement of Gazans. The latest announcement comes as ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas appear to be stalling, with a key stumbling block being the timeline and extent to which Israeli forces would withdraw from the strip during a deal. Defence Minister Israel Katz has presented plans to force all Gazans into a 'humanitarian city' on the ruins of the strip's southernmost city, Rafah. In a briefing to Israeli journalists, Mr Katz said the military would 'move' 600,000 Palestinians into the zone, followed by the entire population after which an 'emigration plan' would be enacted. Twenty-one Palestinians died after gas fired into the crowd caused a crush at an aid distribution centre in Khan Younis in southern Gaza on Wednesday, the enclave's Health Ministry said.
Hindustan Times
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Who was Mohammad Sinwar? The ‘ghost' who evaded multiple assassination attempts
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Wednesday that Mohammad Sinwar, the head of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, was assassinated by Israeli forces. Mohammad was the brother of Yahya Sinwar, the former Hamas chief who was assassinated by Israel last year in Gaza. A hardliner who rose through the ranks of the group's armed wing in Khan Younis, he was also nicknamed the 'ghost' for surviving multiple assassination attempts by Israeli intelligence. Born on September 15, 1975, Sinwar had rarely appeared in public or spoken to the media. His family was among the lakhs of Palestinians who escaped the Nakba, or catastrophe, during the birth of Israel during the 1948 war, and settled in the Gaza Strip. The Sinwars settled in Khan Younis and Mohammad was educated in a school run by the United Nations Palestinian relief agency (UNRWA). Also read | Who was Yahya Sinwar, the 'Butcher of Khan Younis'? He joined Hamas shortly after the militant group's founding in 1987, and his reputation as a 'hardliner' helped him rise through the ranks, leading the Khan Younis Brigade, one of Hamas' strongest units in Gaza. The Khan Younis Brigade led the 2006 cross-border attack and abduction of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was held captive for five years and swapped in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. Yahya Sinwar was among those prisoners. Mohammad also developed close ties with Marwan Issa, the deputy commander of Hamas' military wing, and Mohammed Deif, the military chief assassinated by Israel. Also read | 'This is how a hero dies': Gazans hail Yahya Sinwar after Israel attack Hamas sources told Reuters that Mohammad Sinwar played a central role in the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which was masterminded by his late brother. The attack is widely considered Israel's worst security failure, creating frictions within the establishment. Once, he evaded a remote-controlled explosive resembling a brick that had been planted along his path to a cemetery. In 2003, a bomb was found planted in the wall of his house.
