 "200 Hamas gunmen stuck: What happens in Gaza's tunnels may decide how long the ceasefire lasts")
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out granting “safe passage” to an estimated 200 Hamas gunmen who are reportedly cornered in the extensive tunnel network beneath the Israeli-controlled sector of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
The move shows Israel isn’t letting up in its push to take down the militant group and shut its operations for good.
According to reports, the Hamas operatives are now isolated in subterranean passages after being cut off from escape routes and resupply channels by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) operating in the region. Their situation marks an important moment as the IDF pushes to finish its mission in Rafah.
Initial reports from some Israeli media outlets suggested that Israel might consider allowing the fighters to leave the area and retreat to Hamas-controlled zones, potentially in exchange for the surrender of their weapons and the return of additional bodies of slain Israeli hostages. However, this idea was fiercely condemned by leading figures across the Israeli political spectrum.
The Prime Minister’s office issued a clear statement, attributed to an “Israeli official,” denying that any such agreement for safe passage was being considered. The statement clarified that the Prime Minister’s position remains firm: “The prime minister persists in his firm stance on the disarmament of Hamas and the demilitarisation of the Strip while eliminating terrorist threats to our forces."
The suggestion set off fierce pushback from government ministers.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich took to social media to voice his outrage, writing, “Mr. Prime Minister… This is utter madness. Stop this.” Similarly, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir demanded a more aggressive approach, stating that the trapped militants should be “killed or imprisoned,” and calling their presence “an opportunity to destroy or arrest” them, rather than releasing them “under ridiculous conditions.”
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also commented, noting the strategic gains made by the IDF. “IDF soldiers managed to trap dozens of terrorists in tunnels in the Rafah sector. Their choice is to surrender or die,” Bennett wrote, insisting that allowing them to escape would be unprecedented.
Quick Reads
View AllThe firm denial by the Prime Minister’s office puts the fate of the 200 trapped fighters on a course for a decisive military conclusion, eliminating the possibility of a negotiated, non-military exit from the tunnel labyrinth.
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