Netanyahu says Israel will set up a brand new safety hall throughout Gaza to stress Hamas

[ad_1] DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Wednesday that Israel is establishing a brand new safety hall throughout the Gaza Strip to stress Hamas, suggesting it might reduce off the southern metropolis of Rafah, which Israel has ordered evacuated , from the remainder of the Palestinian territory.

The announcement got here after Netanyahu’s protection minister stated that Israel would seize giant areas of Gaza and add them to its so-called safety zones. A wave of Israeli strikes, in the meantime, killed greater than 40 Palestinians, together with a number of ladies and youngsters, in keeping with Palestinian well being officers.

Israel has vowed to escalate the almost 18-month battle with Hamas till the militant group returns dozens of remaining hostages, disarms and leaves the territory. Israel ended a ceasefire in March and has imposed a monthlong halt on all imports of meals, gasoline and humanitarian assist.

Netanyahu described the brand new axis because the Morag hall, utilizing the identify of a Jewish settlement that after stood between Rafah and Khan Younis, suggesting it might run between the 2 southern cities. He stated it might be “a second Philadelphi corridor " referring to the Gaza facet of the border with Egypt additional south, which has been beneath Israeli management since final Might.

Israel has additionally reasserted management over the Netzarim hall, additionally named for a former settlement, that cuts off the northern third of Gaza, together with Gaza Metropolis, from the remainder of the slim coastal strip. Each of the prevailing corridors run from the Israeli border to the Mediterranean Sea.

“We're reducing up the strip, and we're growing the stress step-by-step, in order that they are going to give us our hostages,” Netanyahu stated.

In northern Gaza, an Israeli airstrike hit a U.N. constructing within the built-up Jabaliya refugee camp, killing 15 individuals, together with 9 kids and two ladies, in keeping with the Indonesian Hospital. The Israeli navy stated it struck Hamas militants in a command and management middle.

AP AUDIO: Israel’s operations in Gaza expands to grab ‘giant areas.’ Palestinians say dozens killed

AP correspondent Charles de Ledesma studies Israel’s protection minister says the nation’s navy operation within the Gaza Strip is increasing to grab “giant areas.”

The constructing, beforehand a clinic, had been transformed right into a shelter for displaced individuals, with greater than 700 residing there, in keeping with Juliette Touma, a spokesperson for the U.N. company for Palestinian refugees, the primary assist supplier in Gaza. No U.N. workers have been wounded within the strike.

Palestinians examine the positioning hit by an Israeli strike in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photograph/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Learn Extra She stated U.N. workers warned individuals in regards to the risks of remaining there after Wednesday’s strike however that many selected to remain, “just because they've completely nowhere else to go.”

U.N. says most of Gaza is a ‘no-go’ zone Greater than 60% of Gaza is now thought of a “no-go” zone due to Israeli evacuation orders, in keeping with Olga Cherevko, a spokesperson for the U.N. humanitarian assist workplace. Lots of of hundreds individuals are residing in squalid tent camps alongside the coast or within the ruins of their destroyed houses.

Israeli Protection Minister Israel Katz had earlier stated Israel would seize “giant areas” and add them to its safety zones, apparently referring to an present buffer zone alongside Gaza’s complete perimeter. He referred to as on Gaza residents to “expel Hamas and return all of the hostages,” saying “that is the one strategy to finish the battle.”

On Sunday, Netanyahu stated Israel plans to keep up total safety management of Gaza after the battle and implement President Donald Trump’s proposal to resettle a lot of its inhabitants elsewhere by way of what the Israeli chief known as “voluntary emigration.”

Palestinians have rejected the plan, viewing it as expulsion from their homeland after Israel’s offensive left a lot of it uninhabitable, and human rights specialists say implementing the plan would possible violate worldwide legislation.

Palestinians examine a UN constructing after it was hit by an Israeli strike, in Jabaliya, northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photograph/Jehad Alshrafi)

Learn Extra Hamas has stated it'll solely launch the remaining 59 hostages — 24 of whom are believed to be alive — in change for the discharge of extra Palestinian prisoners, a long-lasting ceasefire and an Israeli pullout. The group has rejected calls for that it lay down its arms or go away the territory.

Concern over hostages The choice to renew the battle has fueled protests in Israel, the place many worry it has put the hostages at grave threat and are calling for one more ceasefire and change with Hamas.

The Hostage Households Discussion board, which represents most captives’ households, stated they have been “horrified to get up this morning to the Protection Minister’s announcement about increasing navy operations in Gaza.”

Folks participate in a protest demanding the instant launch of hostages held by Hamas within the Gaza Strip, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (AP Photograph/Maya Alleruzzo)

Learn Extra The group referred to as on the Trump administration, which took credit score for brokering the ceasefire however has supported Israel’s decision to end it , to do every thing doable to free the remaining captives.

“Our highest precedence should be a right away deal to carry ALL hostages again residence — the residing for rehabilitation and people killed for correct burial — and finish this battle,” the group stated.

Strikes kill dozens Along with the 15 killed in northern Gaza, Israeli airstrikes in a single day into Wednesday killed one other 28 individuals throughout the territory, in keeping with native hospitals. The Nasser Hospital within the southern metropolis of Khan Younis stated the lifeless included 5 ladies, certainly one of them pregnant, and two kids.

Israel says it targets solely militants and makes each effort to spare civilians, blaming Hamas for his or her deaths as a result of the militants function in densely populated areas.

Palestinians examine a UN constructing after it was hit by an Israeli strike, in Jabaliya, northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photograph/Jehad Alshrafi)

Learn Extra The battle started when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing round 1,200 individuals, largely civilians, and taking 251 hostages, most of whom have since been launched in ceasefire agreements and different offers. Israel rescued eight residing hostages and has recovered dozens of our bodies.

Israel’s offensive has killed greater than 50,000 Palestinians, in keeping with Gaza’s Well being Ministry, which doesn’t say whether or not these killed are civilians or combatants. Israel says it has killed round 20,000 militants, with out offering proof.

The battle has left vast areas of Gaza in ruins and at its peak displaced round 90% of the inhabitants.

___ Scharf reported from Jerusalem. Related Press writers Elena Becatoros in Athens, Greece; Bassem Mroue in Beirut; and Sam Mednick in Tel Aviv, Israel, contributed to this report.

___ Comply with AP’s battle protection at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

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