Israel expands ground offensive in eastern Gaza City

​​​​​​​By Said Amori and Rania Abu Shamala

JERUSALEM/ISTANBUL (AA) - The Israeli army expanded its ground incursion in Gaza City to include neighborhoods in the eastern part of the city.

“The forces are expanding ground operations to the al-Daraj and al-Tuffah neighborhoods” in Gaza City, the military said in a statement on Saturday.

Israeli forces “began operating in these two neighborhoods last night with the aim of deepening operational control in the area and expanding the defensive security zone,” it said.

Earlier, the army said it completed the siege of Rafah and finalized the construction of the Morag Corridor, cutting Rafah off from Khan Younis.

The development follows a report earlier this week by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, which said the army plans to include Rafah -- nearly one-fifth of Gaza -- within a buffer zone from which Palestinians will be banned.

The newspaper described it as “the eradication of the city.”

The proposed buffer zone covers about 75 square kilometers (29 square miles), extending between the Philadelphi and Morag corridors and includes Rafah and surrounding areas.

The Morag Corridor is named after a former illegal Israeli settlement in Gaza dismantled during Israel’s 2005 withdrawal.

The army resumed its offensive on Gaza on March 18, breaking a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal that began in January.

Since October 2023, more than 50,900 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed in Gaza during Israel’s assault.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.​​​​​​​

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice over its military actions in Gaza.