The United States has urged Israel to permit safe passage for up to 200 Hamas operatives trapped in tunnels in Rafah, southern Gaza, as part of a broader plan to end the conflict. The proposal would see the fighters surrender their weapons and either leave for a third country or retreat to Hamas-controlled areas, with the initiative serving as a pilot for a larger amnesty program. While Israel has not fully rejected the idea, it has expressed concerns about granting freedom to operatives involved in attacks and has insisted on conditions, such as the return of the remains of a slain Israeli hostage. Ongoing negotiations have yet to yield an agreement, and attempts to set deadlines for evacuation have so far failed, leaving the fate of the operatives and the broader ceasefire in question.
image sourced from original article at https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-pressures-israel-to-allow-safe-passage-for-100-to-200-hamas-operatives-in-rafah/Original article source: https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-pressures-israel-to-allow-safe-passage-for-100-to-200-hamas-operatives-in-rafah/
Source Id: 2025-11-884056592
