Israel Rejects Safe Passage for 200 Hamas Terrorists in Gaza Amid Ceasefire Violations

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the proposal to allow around 200 Palestinian terrorists to move safely from Israeli-controlled areas of Gaza back into Hamas-controlled territory unless they lay down their arms. This proposal, reportedly aimed at reducing risks to Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers and facilitating searches for hostages, has met strong opposition from Israeli political figures such as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who called for the terrorists' elimination or imprisonment instead. The IDF maintains that terrorists must be disarmed and only then reclassified, while ongoing military operations and demolitions continue in Israeli-controlled Gaza zones, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. Despite a ceasefire agreement, Israeli forces have conducted air and artillery strikes east of Gaza City and Beit Lahia, with Gaza's Civil Defense reporting severe humanitarian conditions and limited aid access. Hamas and Israel are reportedly engaged in direct talks regarding the movement of terrorists, with Hamas seeking temporary immunity for militants in underground tunnels; however, Israeli officials have not confirmed any agreement. The situation remains tense as both sides negotiate amid ongoing hostilities and humanitarian challenges in Gaza.