Israel’s New Security Corridor: The Bold Strategy to Defeat Hamas & Free 59 Hostages

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced the creation of the Morag Axis, a new security corridor in southern Gaza aimed at isolating Hamas and increasing pressure for the release of Israeli hostages. This move follows Israel’s control of the Philadelphi and Netzarim corridors, further dividing Gaza and restricting Hamas’ movements. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant confirmed plans to expand military operations and seize more land, leading to mass evacuations of Palestinian civilians. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes have killed dozens, including women and children, worsening the humanitarian crisis as food, fuel, and medical supplies remain scarce.

Protests have erupted in Israel, with citizens demanding a ceasefire to secure the hostages’ release, but both sides remain locked in a deadly conflict with no diplomatic resolution in sight.

Israel’s New Security Corridor: The Bold Strategy to Defeat Hamas & Free 59 Hostages

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced the creation of a new security corridor in Gaza, named the Morag Axis, as part of intensified efforts to pressure Hamas into releasing Israeli hostages. Located between Rafah and Khan Younis in southern Gaza, the corridor aims to divide the region and expand Israel’s military control. This follows Israel’s existing grip on the Philadelphi Corridor along Gaza’s border with Egypt, which it claims is critical for blocking weapons smuggling. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant confirmed plans to escalate military operations, seize more territory, and widen security zones, triggering mass evacuations of Palestinian civilians from conflict areas.

Recent Israeli airstrikes have killed over 40 Palestinians, nearly half of them women and children, according to local health officials. Gaza’s humanitarian crisis deepens daily, with severe shortages of food, fuel, and medical supplies due to Israel’s blockade. The collapse of a March ceasefire—which had briefly enabled hostage-prisoner exchanges—has fueled the current violence. While Israel seeks to force Hamas back to negotiations, the group demands a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a permanent ceasefire before releasing the remaining 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive.

The Morag Axis marks Israel’s second major security corridor in Gaza. The first, the Philadelphi Corridor, has been under Israeli control since May 2024, while the northern Netzarim Corridor has isolated Gaza City. Netanyahu claims these routes aim to fracture Hamas’ influence, but Palestinians view them as tools of territorial domination. The Palestinian Authority condemns the strategy, urging Hamas to relinquish power while rejecting Israel’s land seizures.

In northern Gaza, an Israeli strike on a U.N. shelter in Jabaliya killed 15 people, including women and children, despite evacuation warnings. Over 700 displaced people had sought refuge there, highlighting the desperation of civilians with nowhere to flee. U.N. reports indicate that 60% of Gaza is now uninhabitable, with vast “no-go zones” forcing families into coastal tent camps or bombed-out buildings. Over 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents are displaced, many of them multiple times.

Netanyahu’s proposal to resettle Gazans outside the territory has drawn sharp backlash, with Palestinians accusing Israel of forced displacement—a potential violation of international law. Defense Minister Israel Katz has called on Gazans to “oust Hamas,” framing it as the only path to peace. Meanwhile, Hamas remains defiant, insisting it will only release hostages if Israel agrees to a full withdrawal, a permanent ceasefire, and prisoner releases.

In Israel, public protests demand renewed ceasefire talks to secure the hostages’ safe return. Families fear military operations endanger captives, urging international intervention. The U.S., while historically supportive of Israel, has shown limited public engagement in recent months, enabling Netanyahu’s government to proceed with minimal external pressure.

The war, now in its 18th month, began after Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, which killed 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed over 50,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, though Israel claims 20,000 were Hamas fighters—a figure that has not been independently verified. The military accuses Hamas of using civilians as shields, complicating efforts to minimize civilian harm.

With infrastructure decimated and aid blocked, Gaza faces catastrophic hunger and disease outbreaks. Hospitals struggle without power, and children scavenge for food in rubble. The international community, including the U.N., warns of potential famine, urging urgent aid access and de-escalation. However, diplomatic efforts remain stalled, leaving civilians trapped in a cycle of violence with no clear resolution in sight.

As Israel advances into Rafah—a city already ravaged by bombardment—resistance appears minimal, suggesting Hamas may be regrouping elsewhere. The conflict’s longevity and brutality have etched deep scars on both sides, with trust in negotiations eroded. For now, the Morag Axis symbolizes Israel’s relentless strategy to dismantle Hamas, but at a staggering human cost that continues to ripple across Gaza and beyond.