DZWatch Exclusive: A potential agreement is being discussed regarding the fate of approximately 200 fighters reportedly trapped in tunnels beneath Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. The situation has become a focal point in ongoing efforts to move forward with the ceasefire agreement implemented last month.
According to Israeli sources, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Envoy Jared Kushner have been exploring a possible resolution. The reported compromise involves allowing the fighters safe passage out of the tunnels, although details remain scarce.
One Israeli official stated that no country has yet agreed to accept the fighters. Meanwhile, the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation suggested that Kushner has requested Israel permit the fighters to relocate to Hamas-controlled areas within Gaza. Assessments within Israel indicate a belief that Washington will ensure a solution, preventing any actions that could jeopardize the existing agreement.
However, conflicting reports have emerged, with other Israeli officials stating that no definitive agreement has been reached. Channel 12 in Israel quoted a U.S. source indicating Washington’s commitment to resolving the Rafah situation without disrupting the broader implementation of the peace deal. The source suggested that a resolution is imminent, potentially within days.
The presence of these fighters in the tunnels has become a significant obstacle, with Israel allegedly using the issue to create hurdles in the swift execution of the ceasefire agreement. The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, have confirmed that the fighters are indeed their members, remaining in an area under Israeli control in Rafah.
The fighters are reportedly located within tunnels inside the “Yellow Line,” the demarcation to which Israeli forces have withdrawn. DZWatch will continue to monitor this developing story.
