Earlier in the day, the military said it had completed its deployment along the Morag Corridor and effectively cut off southern Gaza from the rest of the coastal enclave. The military said its forces had surrounded the city of Rafah, destroyed underground tunnels and dismantled terror infrastructure. According to the IDF, dozens of terrorists were killed in the area over the past 10 days of fighting.
“The IDF will continue to solidify its control on the main passageway and take action to thwart terror activity,” the military said in a statement.
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Meanwhile, a senior Hamas official told AFP that a delegation from the terror group would travel to Cairo on Saturday for talks with Egyptian mediators about a possible ceasefire. “We hope the meeting will achieve real progress toward reaching an agreement to end the war, halt the aggression and ensure the full withdrawal of occupation forces from Gaza,” the official said.
Israeli officials reiterated that the next move lies with Hamas. According to them, the Egyptian proposal—reportedly including the release of eight living hostages—remains on the table, alongside a separate plan advanced by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held consultations Friday to review the Egyptian plan, which includes steps to end the war—steps that Israel opposes—as well as continued military pressure on Gaza, including the targeted killing of senior Hamas operatives.