Buffer zone or bargaining chip? What you need to know about Gaza’s new Magin Oz corridor

16th July 2025

1 minute read

Buffer zone or bargaining chip? What you need to know about Gaza’s new Magin Oz corridor

Amid displacement tents and the rubble of destroyed homes, the war continues to reshape Gaza on the ground.

On Wednesday, the Israeli army announced the completion of a new corridor in southern Gaza named “Magin Oz”.

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What is “Magin Oz”?

It is a military strip stretching 15 kilometers.

It separates the eastern part of Khan Younis from the western side.

The eastern section is entirely controlled by Israeli forces and is almost devoid of civilians.

The western section, however, is witnessing ongoing clashes, especially in the Al-Mawasi area, home to hundreds of thousands of displaced people.

The corridor was established with the participation of the Golani Brigade and 188th Armored Brigade of the Israeli army.

It is connected to the adjacent “Morag” corridor.

Objectives

According to the Israeli army, the corridor is part of its strategy to intensify pressure on Hamas brigades in Khan Younis, aiming to settle the battle in the region.

However, according to Israeli Army Radio sources, the corridor serves two key purposes:

To reinforce territorial control and negotiation leverage, acting as an additional bargaining chip alongside other established axes like Netzarim and Philadelphi.

To expand the so-called “humanitarian city” in Rafah, by transforming eastern areas of Khan Younis into closed, depopulated zones, in preparation for implementing a civilian separation plan.