This coincides with Israel continuing its bombing of  Rafah  in the southern Gaza Strip, despite the order issued by the International Court of Justice to stop attacks on the city, where half of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million people had previously taken refuge.

In a statement broadcast on television, the chief spokesman for the Israeli army, Daniel Hajari, said that the Israeli forces had achieved operational control over the “ Philadelphia axis ” extending along the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, using the name that Israel gives to the 14-kilometre-long corridor.

Hajari said, "The Philadelphia axis was an oxygen line for Hamas, which it used to smuggle weapons into  the Gaza Strip area."

Hajari did not clarify what “operational” control meant, but an Israeli military official had previously said that there were “Israeli forces on the ground” along parts of the corridor.

The border with Egypt along the southern end of the Gaza Strip is the only land border of the Strip that was not under direct Israeli control.

Earlier Wednesday, Israel sent tanks to carry out attacks around Rafah and said that its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip was likely to continue throughout the year.  

Israeli tanks advanced into the heart of Rafah for the first time on Tuesday, despite the International Court of Justice ordering Israel to stop the attack on the city.

The International Court of Justice said in its ruling issued on Friday that Israel did not explain how it would maintain the safety of the evacuated Rafah residents and how it would provide them with food, water and medicine. In its ruling, the court also called on Hamas to immediately and unconditionally release the hostages it took on October 7

Residents of Rafah said that Israeli tanks penetrated into  Tal al-Sultan  , west of the city, and into Yabna and near al-Shaboura in the center, before retreating to a buffer zone near the border with Egypt, instead of remaining in their positions, as happened in other attacks.

Haitham Al-Hams, Deputy Director of the Ambulance and Emergency Service in Rafah, said, “We received distress calls from residents in Tal Al-Sultan from quadcopter (drone) attacks as they were fleeing from the areas where they live towards safe areas.”

Palestinian health officials said that 19 civilians were killed in air strikes and shelling by Israeli forces across Gaza. Israel accuses Hamas militants of hiding among civilians, which  Hamas denies .

Palestinian Health Minister Majed Abu Ramadan urged Washington to put pressure on Israel to open the Rafah crossing for the entry of aid, saying that there is no indication that Israeli forces will do so soon and that patients in the  besieged Strip are dying due to the lack of health care.

Tzachi Hanegbi, National Security Advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said that the fighting will continue throughout at least 2024, indicating that Israel is not ready to respond to international calls to reach a ceasefire agreement with Hamas and exchange hostages held by the movement for Palestinian prisoners.

He continued, "The fighting in Rafah is not a futile war," reiterating that the goal is to  end Hamas' rule in Gaza  and prevent it and its allies from attacking Israel.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that Israel needs to develop a post-  war plan in Gaza  , otherwise the way will be open to chaos and the return of Hamas to the Strip.

The United States, Israel's closest ally, stressed its opposition to any major ground operation in Rafah, but said on Tuesday that it did not believe such an operation was underway.

The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip says that the Israeli attack claimed the lives of more than 36,000 Palestinians