Israel Rules Out Safe Passage for 200 Hamas Gunmen in Rafah Tunnels

Reports surfaced that Israel was considering allowing approximately 200 Hamas terrorists trapped in tunnels in the Rafah area to safely transit to Hamas-controlled territory if they surrendered their weapons. This proposal aimed to protect Israeli soldiers and facilitate the search for hostages but faced strong opposition from Israeli officials and politicians, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who called it "utter madness" and demanded the terrorists be killed or imprisoned instead. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office firmly denied any plan to grant safe passage, reaffirming his stance on disarming Hamas and demilitarizing the Gaza Strip while eliminating threats to Israeli forces. IDF sources noted that passage would only be allowed if Hamas also handed over more bodies of slain hostages. Families of soldiers killed by Hamas condemned the proposed plan as unthinkable, emphasizing that the terrorists responsible should not be freed. Overall, the Israeli government maintains a hardline position against allowing Hamas operatives safe transit without disarmament and accountability.