IDF reportedly reaches coast of Rafah, completing control of key Gaza-Egypt border road

The Israeli military has reached the coast of southern Gaza’s Rafah, completing its control over the so-called Philadelphi Corridor, according to a report by the London-based, Qatar-owned Al-Araby Al-Jadeed outlet.

The IDF announced last week that it had established “operational control” over the entire route along the Gaza-Egypt border. It said at the time that troops were physically located in most of the corridor and that there was a small section near the coast where ground forces were not present, but it controlled the area with surveillance and firepower.

Residents speaking to Reuters earlier today said Israeli tanks advanced further west in Rafah.

They said armored vehicles took more control along Rafah’s border with Egypt, and made several raids into the center and west of the city.

Health officials in Gaza said two Palestinians were killed and several were wounded in western Rafah from tank shelling there.

Some residents said tanks were present in Al-Izba, an area of far southwest Rafah close to the Mediterranean coast.