The Gaza Strip has been completely divided in two by the Israeli army (IDF). There is now “a North Gaza and a South Gaza,” IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said on Sunday evening, after Israeli forces reached the Gaza Strip coastline. The encirclement of Gaza City, the largest city in the Gaza Strip, has also been completed. The army expects the attack on that city to begin within 48 hours.
However, according to the spokesperson, civilians should still be able to flee to the southern part of the Gaza Strip. He made it clear: ‘This is a one-way corridor to the south.’ The IDF has been calling on residents of the northern Gaza Strip and Gaza City for three weeks to temporarily move south, away from the core of the war against Hamas.
Hagari also said the army on Sunday evening began expanding air and ground attacks into the densely populated coastal strip, which he called a “major operation.” The expansion of Israeli attacks virtually coincided with the shutdown of all communications and internet services in the Gaza Strip, which the Palestinian telecom company Paltel reported on Sunday.
Last week, Israeli soldiers entered the Gaza Strip for a ground operation. One of the goals was to reach the sea from the east, thus splitting the area in two. Israel plans to completely sweep the north of the Gaza Strip and drive Hamas out of the area.
Editorial, ANP
