Hamas Refuses To Let Trapped Terrorists In Rafah Surrender Their Weapons

Israel is insisting that the armed terrorists on Rafah surrender their weapons before being allowed safe passage, but Hamas is refusing the condition, claiming it would endanger their lives, Israel Hayom reported Wednesday.

The discussions, facilitated by mediators involved in the hostage negotiations, reportedly center on allowing the terrorists to exit the tunnels beyond the Yellow Line and move further into Gaza. The sources said the International Committee of the Red Cross might oversee their withdrawal to ensure they are not harmed.

According to the Palestinian sources, over 200 terrorists are hiding in various locations across the Gaza Strip, not just in Rafah. They added that these individuals are scattered throughout multiple areas, making their extraction more complex.

The report noted that Israel’s condition requiring the terrorists to disarm before leaving has been rejected by the terror groups, who argue that “there is a danger to their lives.” The sources further claimed that Israel “does not have accurate information” about the terrorists’ exact whereabouts, citing “sensitive security conditions.”

One source told Palestinian media that it is “impossible” for 150 or 200 terrorists to be confined to a single tunnel. He explained that the tunnel network is vast and interlinked across multiple sectors, complicating the IDF’s efforts to locate and target Hamas members.

The sources further dismissed Israeli warnings about sealing tunnels with cement, claiming that such measures pose little threat because “most of them include many openings and side passages.” According to the sources, previous attempts to flood the tunnels with water also failed to neutralize the underground network.