‘The IDF Will Engage In Intense Fighting’: Israel Poised to Escalate in Gaza

Latest Developments

• Katz in Morag Corridor: Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz visited the Morag corridor in southern Gaza on April 9, the IDF’s latest expansion of its buffer zone inside Gaza, which lies to the north of the southern city of Rafah. Katz stated that the IDF’s recent territorial gains are intended to “leave Gaza smaller and more isolated.” Since the IDF declared Rafah a combat zone on March 18, some 250,000 civilians have been evacuated from the city. Katz also warned that “if Hamas continues its refusal and does not release the hostages soon, the IDF will engage in intense fighting throughout the Gaza Strip until the hostages are released and Hamas is defeated.”
• Work To Be Done: Israeli forces have reportedly destroyed only about 25 percent of Gaza’s extensive tunnel network since the war began. While most of the attack tunnels and command centers used by the Iran-backed terrorist organization have been destroyed, many of the tunnels used by Hamas to move undetected throughout Gaza remain largely intact. The group is believed to still have around 20,000 active fighters in the enclave — roughly half the number it had before its October 7, 2023, atrocities.
• Major Reinforcements Needed: A full sweep of the Gaza Strip would reportedly require the deployment of several additional IDF divisions, including reservists. While such an operation could be carried out rapidly and likely overwhelm Hamas’s military capabilities, according to the report, it would also increase the risk to IDF personnel and the 21 to 24 Israeli hostages who are believed to be alive — out of the 59 still held by Hamas.

FDD Expert Response

“There was hope — both in Israel and beyond — that Passover, the holiday of liberation, would mark the return of the hostages and a path to peace. But that hope was shattered when Hamas rejected the deal that could have spared Palestinians further suffering. If and when Israel launches its final offensive, the pressure must be relentless. Hamas has mastered the art of using ceasefires to regroup. This time, the mission must end only when Hamas is fully defeated.” — Mark Dubowitz, CEO

“When Hamas fired 10 rockets at southern Israeli communities last weekend, it was a clear indication that the group still retains fighting capabilities in Gaza. Now, reports suggest that Hamas has steadily regained strength over the course of the war, and a rapid IDF advance into previously untouched strongholds appears increasingly likely. However, as it has done throughout the course of the war, Hamas is expected to threaten the lives of the remaining Israeli hostages if the IDF moves too close to these entrenched Hamas positions.” — Aaron Goren, Research Analyst and Editor

FDD Background and Analysis

“Israel Launches Extensive Strikes Against Palestinian Terrorist Groups in Gaza,” by Joe Truzman

“‘Commanded the Kidnappings’: Israel Eliminates Terrorist Implicated in Kidnapping and Murders of Bibas Family and American Citizens,” FDD Flash Brief

“Israel takes over new area dubbed ‘Morag Corridor’ in Gaza,” by Seth J. Frantzman