The Israeli military issued a stern warning to Palestinians to avoid a key Gaza roadway as its forces advanced through the Netzarim Corridor, a central strip bisecting the enclave, amid an escalating operation to bolster security zones.
In a statement posted on X, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesperson, Col. Avichay Adraee, detailed the latest maneuvers: “Over the past day, IDF troops began a targeted operation in central Gaza and are deployed up to the center of the Netzarim Corridor.” He urged residents to stay off the Salah a-Din road, a vital artery linking Gaza’s north and south, emphasizing, “For your safety, do not travel on the Salah a-Din road between the north of the Gaza Strip and the south and vice versa.” Adraee clarified that movement from north to south is permitted only via the coastal al-Rashid road, offering a narrow alternative amid the intensifying military activity.
The Netzarim Corridor, stretching from the Israeli border to the Mediterranean Sea just south of Gaza City, has become a focal point of the IDF’s strategy to expand its buffer zone along the Gaza frontier. The operation extends beyond the center, with troops also active in the south near Khan Younis and in the north near Beit Lahiya, aiming to fortify control and disrupt potential threats. The military has reiterated its call for Palestinians to avoid areas where soldiers are deployed, underscoring the risks as ground forces deepen their hold.
This latest push follows a pattern of heightened IDF activity in Gaza, reflecting ongoing efforts to secure strategic corridors amid a fragile ceasefire that collapsed earlier this year. The Salah a-Din road, once a bustling lifeline for Gazans, now stands as a restricted zone under military scrutiny, with the coastal route serving as the sole sanctioned path for north-south travel.
According to ABC, the IDF also distributed leaflets in the Gaza Strip stating that the Trump plan will soon be implemented—“The plan will impose displacement on you, whether you want it or not.”
