Report: Israel offers trapped Hamas fighters in Rafah chance to surrender and relocate

Israel conveyed a proposal to Hamas last week regarding the conditional release of dozens of Hamas fighters believed to be trapped in tunnels in an IDF-controlled area of eastern Rafah, Channel 12 reports, citing an Israeli official.

According to the report, Israel sent the proposal to senior Hamas officials through mediating countries. Under the proposal, the remaining terrorists in the area would be permitted to emerge if they surrender and agree to be transferred to Israeli prisons. They would later be eligible for release and relocation to the Hamas-controlled area of the Gaza Strip, on the condition that they pledge not to return to terrorism and agree to disarm.

Since the proposal was made, the terrorists have not surrendered and have on multiple occasions emerged from tunnels in attempts to flee or attack IDF forces, implying that the offer has not been accepted, the network notes, while adding that it is unclear whether Hamas leaders can even communicate with the trapped fighters.

An Israeli official tells Channel 12: “We gave the terrorists in Rafah the option to live and to leave the tunnels. So far, they have not agreed to meet the conditions we set. It appears they have decided to become martyrs.”