In southern Gaza, the Israeli army totally encloses Rafah.

• Rafah in southern Gaza has been totally surrounded by the Israeli army, which has declared it to be a part of its "security zone" and sealed it off from the rest of the Strip.

• Palestinian conditions have become "absolutely catastrophic" as a result of Israel's attacks on Gaza's water systems and its obstruction of repairs, a UN humanitarian official told Al Jazeera.

• According to a United Nations analysis, between March 18 and April 9, at least 36 Israeli strikes on Gaza killed only Palestinian women and children.
• According to Gaza's Health Ministry, Israel's war on Gaza has resulted in at least 50,912 documented Palestinian deaths and 115,981 injuries. The Government Media Office said that thousands of people who went missing beneath the debris are thought to be dead, updating the death toll to over 61,700.
• During the October 7, 2023 assaults in Israel, which were led by Hamas, at least 1,139 people were murdered and almost 200 were captured.

An Israeli landmine near the Lebanon border gravely injured an Israeli reservist.

• According to the Israeli military, during operations on the border with Lebanon this morning, an Israeli reservist suffered significant injuries.
• The soldier stepped on a landmine after troops inadvertently crossed an Israeli minefield, according to Israeli Army Radio.

Israel was attacked by rockets, according to Hamas.

• As we previously reported, the Israeli army claimed to have successfully intercepted three rockets fired from the Gaza Strip without suffering any injuries.
• The armed wing of Hamas, the Qassam Brigades, released a statement on Telegram claiming responsibility for the attack.
• It claimed to have used the "Rajum" short-range 114mm missile weapon to hit the "Nir Yitzhak" settlement.

Israel continues to order Gaza's forcible relocation.

• Residents of numerous Khan Younis neighborhoods have been asked to evacuate by the Israeli army's Arabic-speaking spokesperson on X, who warned of an impending onslaught "with great force."
• Before the attack, the spokesperson urged "all Gaza Strip residents who are present in the areas of Khan Younis and in the neighborhoods: Qizan al-Najjar, Qizan Abu Rashwan, al-Salam, al-Manara, al-Qurain, Maan, al-Batn al-Sameen, Jurt al-Lot, al-Fakhari and the southern neighborhoods of Bani Suhaila" to evacuate to al-Mawasi, which is west of the city on the sea coast of Gaza.
• According to the speaker, missiles fired by Hamas from this region were directed towards Israel.
• The Israeli army claimed that three missiles fired from the Gaza Strip were intercepted without resulting in any injuries, as we previously reported.

Hamas demands that the fighting halt in exchange for the release of prisoners.

"The increasing calls within the occupying entity to halt the war and free the prisoners confirm [Israeli PM Benjamin] Netanyahu's responsibility for prolonging the war and for the suffering of his prisoners and our people," the group stated in a statement.

This seems to be a reference to the more than 1,000 Israeli special forces reservists who called for an end to Israel's war on Gaza and indicated their support for air force reservists who are about to be released from active duty.

"The blood of the children of Gaza and the prisoners of the occupation are victims of Netanyahu's ambitions to remain in power and to evade prosecution," the statement went on.

The formula is straightforward: the release of prisoners in return for an end to the conflict. Netanyahu rejects it, while the rest of the world accepts it. It came to the conclusion that "every day of delay means more innocent civilians are killed among our people and the fate of the prisoners of the occupation is unknown."

The defense minister claims that Rafah is now a part of Israel's "security zone."

• Israel's defense minister, Israel Katz, claims that the army has taken control of what it refers to as the "Morag Corridor," a passage in southern Gaza that separates Rafah from the rest of the Strip.
• He claimed that this action essentially creates a "Israeli security zone" in Rafah.
• "This is the last chance to banish Hamas and release all hostages, stopping the war," Katz said in a statement, threatening Palestinians in Gaza.
• He continued by saying that Israeli operations will spread to "most of Gaza's territory" if they did not follow his instructions.
• The Netzarim Corridor, which splits the Strip in two, will also be extended, Katz added. During the ceasefire earlier this year, Israel momentarily left the Netzarim Corridor, but when fighting resumed, it retook it.
• He went on to say that Palestinians who want to leave Gaza will be given "willful passage," bringing up US President Trump's proposal to expel Palestinians from Gaza once more.