Israel says it controls third of Gaza as ceasefire talks continue

The Israeli military said on Wednesday it is expanding the "Morag Corridor," a new dividing line in the southern Gaza Strip, and has turned roughly a third of the enclave into "security zones" under full Israeli military control.

An infographic video released by the military showed the "Morag Corridor" running through an area between Rafah and Khan Younis, cutting off Rafah from Khan Younis and central Gaza.

In the video, Khan Younis, southern Gaza's largest city, appeared almost completely razed, with only a few severely damaged buildings left.

"As part of the operation, the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) has achieved full operational control over several key areas and routes throughout Gaza. Approximately 30 percent of the strip's territory is now designated as an Operational Security Perimeter," the military said in a statement.

Israel has also established the "Netzarim Corridor," a military buffer zone in central Gaza aimed at isolating Gaza City and northern Gaza from the rest of the enclave.

Israel has blocked the entry of all humanitarian aid into Gaza since March 2. It ended a two-month ceasefire with Hamas on March 18 and resumed deadly air and ground assaults on the enclave.

The renewed Israeli attacks have so far killed 1,652 Palestinians and injured 4,391 others, Gaza health authorities said on Wednesday, adding the death toll in the enclave since the war began in October 2023 has risen to 51,025, with 116,432 injured.

However, talks on a Gaza ceasefire continue. On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed Israeli negotiators to "continue the steps" for the release of hostages still held in Gaza, his office said.

"The prime minister issued an instruction for the continuation of the steps to advance the release of our hostages," the office said in a statement.

The statement followed an assessment meeting with the negotiating team and the heads of the security establishment on the 59 hostages who are still being held in Gaza.

So far, there has been no progress in the ceasefire talks. Hamas has repeatedly described calls to disarm as a red line it will not cross, and has said Israeli troops must withdraw from Gaza under any permanent ceasefire.

"Any truce lacking real guarantees for halting the war, achieving full withdrawal, lifting the blockade and beginning reconstruction will be a political trap," Hamas said in a statement on Wednesday.

(With input from agencies)