Delayed response to updated ceasefire proposal partly because Hamas leaders are in Gaza tunnels, source says

By Jacob Magid

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19 July 2025, 5:18 pm

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Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief

Family members and supporters of Israeli hostage Nimrod Cohen attend an event celebrating his birthday while he remains in Hamas captivity, at Tel Aviv's Hostage Square, July 17, 2025. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

Part of the reason that it has taken Hamas several days to respond to the updated Israeli maps of the IDF’s partial withdrawal from Gaza during the 60-day truce under discussion is due to the time it takes to transmit and receive messages from the terror group’s military leaders who are hiding in tunnels underneath the Strip, a source involved in the mediation effort tells The Times of Israel.