Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have begun seizing control of a new corridor in the Gaza Strip—known as the “Morag Security Zone.” This move, he said, marks a shift in Israel’s operational posture, intensifying pressure on Hamas and aiming to force the release of Israeli hostages still held in captivity.
“Last night in the Gaza Strip we shifted gears,” Netanyahu declared in an official statement. “The IDF is seizing territory, striking terrorists, destroying infrastructure… and we are seizing the ‘Morag Security Zone’.”
The Morag Security Zone is being described by Israeli officials as a second “Philadelphi Route”—a parallel security corridor designed to cut through southern Gaza, disrupt terrorist mobility, and tighten Israel’s strategic hold across the Strip.
Severing Gaza, Increasing Pressure
According to Netanyahu, the creation of this corridor is intended to “sever the Strip”—further isolating Hamas strongholds and restricting movement between northern and southern Gaza. The military maneuver comes as part of a broader plan to escalate pressure on Hamas, particularly over the fate of more than 50 Israeli hostages still held underground by the terror group.
“The more they do not give [hostages], the more the pressure will increase,” Netanyahu said, underscoring that Israel’s goals remain unchanged: dismantling Hamas, returning the hostages, and eliminating terrorist infrastructure.
Strategic Context: From Netzarim to Morag
The Morag Security Zone complements the previously established Netzarim Corridor, which allowed Israeli forces to split the Gaza Strip and cut off resupply routes used by Hamas. Together, the corridors are intended to provide Israel with permanent strategic depth inside Gaza, enabling rapid response to terror threats and ensuring Hamas cannot regroup.
Military analysts have compared the new corridor system to Israel’s control over the Philadelphi Route along the Gaza-Egypt border—historically a key smuggling zone for weapons and fighters.
Operational Success, Political Message
The IDF’s push through the Morag Security Zone signals not only a military escalation but a political message: Israel will no longer tolerate delay tactics from Hamas and is willing to escalate ground control until its national objectives are met.
“We are determined to achieve the goals of the war,” Netanyahu concluded. “With God’s help and with the help of our heroic soldiers—we will also achieve it.”
Conclusion
As the war against Hamas enters a new phase, Israel is demonstrating that it will continue to shape the battlefield—not just react to it. The creation of the Morag Security Zone is part of a calculated and methodical effort to bring the hostages home, dismantle Hamas’ power structure, and reshape the security landscape in Gaza for good.
