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It has established a new corridor that cuts off the city of Rafah from neighbouring Khan Younis and designated 30% of Gaza as an "operational security perimeter".

On Saturday, Katz said the IDF had completed the takeover of the "Morag axis" - a reference to a former Jewish settlement located between Rafah and Khan Younis.

"The IDF has now completed the takeover of the Morag axis that crosses Gaza between Rafah and Khan Younis and makes the entire area between the Philadelphia axis and Morag part of the Israeli security zone," he said.

The takeover of the corridor effectively cuts the southern city of Rafah off from Khan Younis.

Rafah makes up almost one fifth of Gaza.