The Israeli military said on Thursday that its forces have killed around 40 Hamas militants who had been trapped in tunnels below Rafah in southern Gaza, in an area now under Israeli control
The Israeli military on Thursday said that its forces have killed as many as 40 Hamas militants who had been trapped in tunnels beneath Rafah in southern Gaza, an area now under Israeli control.
According to a Reuters report, citing Israeli and US officials, around 200 militants had been confined in the tunnels for months.
Some have since emerged, only to be killed in clashes with Israeli forces or to surrender, added the report, citing Israeli media.
Efforts by Washington and other mediators to negotiate a deal allowing the Hamas fighters to lay down their arms in exchange for safe passage to other parts of the enclave have stalled, leaving the militants vulnerable to Israeli operations.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff had said the deal would be a test for a broader process to disarm Hamas across Gaza.
The killed militants included at least three local commanders, the Israeli military said on Thursday, as well as the son of one of Hamas’ exiled leaders, Ghazi Hamad.
Some Hamas sources confirmed the death of at least one commander, Mohammad al-Bawab, though the group has not officially confirmed the report.
Hamas has not officially confirmed the number of those trapped or how many may remain.
Reuters reported that a spokesperson for the group in Gaza declined to comment on Israel’s alleged killing of the 40 gunmen.
With inputs from agencies
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