IDF opens new corridor in Gaza and divides Khan Younis

US President Donald Trump will meet with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani on Wednesday to discuss negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza, according to Axios, cited by the Jerusalem Post .

Qatar has been one of the mediators in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has been ongoing since October 2023. However, the meeting could also serve as an opportunity for the two countries to discuss efforts regarding talks between the US and Iran towards a new nuclear deal.

Also on the White House agenda is a meeting between Donald Trump and Bahraini Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

The latest attacks by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip have reportedly left at least 20 Palestinians dead in the early hours of Wednesday, Al Jazeera reported today.

According to the same source, one of the attacks targeted the al-Mawasi displacement camp in southern Gaza, where at least four people were killed, including two children. This facility has been repeatedly attacked by the IDF, despite having been declared one of the only safe zones for civilians in the territory.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have created a new corridor in the southern Gaza Strip, dividing the Khan Younis region between east and west, the Times of Israel reported on Wednesday.

According to the Israeli military, the new corridor is called Magen Oz and was completed by the IDF's 36th Division over the past few weeks as part of Israel's plan to clear the area of terrorist elements and infrastructure. The IDF also reported eliminating dozens of Hamas members, as well as destroying tunnels and other weapons caches.

במבצע מיוחד של אוגדה 36: כוחות 188 וגולני השלימו את פתיחת ציר ׳מגן עוז׳ במרחב חאן יונס

לכל הפרטים: https://t.co/2XqqaBp6lz pic.twitter.com/XLYiUJVIAU

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) July 16, 2025

This new route also connects to the Morag corridor, which separates Khan Younis from Rafah, and is 15 kilometers long, and is considered "an important part of putting pressure on Hamas and defeating the Khan Younis Brigade."

Good morning.

We begin our coverage of the Middle East conflict here this Wednesday. Check out the latest developments on the topic in this Tuesday link .

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