Netanyahu: Hamas Militants in Tunnels Face Either Surrender or Stay Underground

SadaNews - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Hamas militants in the tunnels have two options: either surrender or stay underground.

The Israeli Broadcasting Authority announced yesterday, Tuesday, that Israel is considering allowing 200 militants to exit its controlled area in Gaza in exchange for the return of all the corpses of prisoners.

The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported yesterday, Tuesday, that the Chief of Staff of the army, Eyal Zamir, expressed readiness to allow around 200 Palestinian militants from the city of Rafah (in southern Gaza) to leave in exchange for the return of the body of soldier Hadar Goldin, which has been held by the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades since 2014.

Channel 12 also indicated that Israel may allow a safe passage for Hamas fighters if they surrender their weapons, noting that the army will not permit them to pass into Hamas-controlled areas unless more corpses of the deceased detainees are handed over.

On Monday, the channel reported that Israel is considering allowing fighters trapped in Rafah to cross the "yellow line" into an area controlled by Hamas in exchange for disarmament. However, it later stated that this sparked anger in political circles, and Netanyahu's office ultimately announced a decision for them to remain in the area under Israeli control.

The channel added that the United States is pressuring Israel to allow a safe passage for Hamas activists, as part of efforts to move to the next stage of the ceasefire framework according to President Donald Trump's plan, in a development that could mark a turning point in the negotiation process between the two sides.