Israel says new security corridor completed, severing Gaza’s southernmost city

Two boys sit on a mattress as they ride on their family car while fleeing from east to west of Gaza City on Friday (Jehad Alshrafi/AP)

Israel announced it has completed the construction of the new Morag corridor, essentially separating the southern city of Rafah from the rest of the Gaza Strip, further squeezing Palestinians into shrinking wedges of land, as air strikes continued across the enclave.

The forces have “completed the encirclement of Rafah”, a statement by the Israeli military said.