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Israel Claims Killing of 40 Hamas Fighters Trapped in Rafah Tunnels

  • By Thetripurapost Desk, Gaza
  • Dec 01, 2025
  • 542

In a development that underscores the continued volatility of southern Gaza despite an active ceasefire, Israel has claimed to have killed more than 40 Hamas fighters who were allegedly trapped inside a network of tunnels in Rafah for the past several months. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Sunday night that the operation was part of a broader campaign to dismantle the tunnel infrastructure that Hamas has long used as a strategic military shield.

According to Israeli military sources, the fighters had been confined underground for nearly nine months, with Israeli forces refusing to allow them any negotiated exit route. Israeli media estimates suggest that as many as 200 Hamas fighters remain stranded beneath Rafah since March, cut off from communication and possibly unaware of recent diplomatic developments, including the current ceasefire.

A Reuters report last month revealed that many of the fighters had no information about the ceasefire, having been isolated underground for seven to eight months. The report also noted that international mediators viewed the safe extraction of these fighters as a potential stabilizer for the fragile truce.

A Proposal Rejected on Both Sides

On November 6, a proposal was conveyed to Israel and Hamas through diplomatic channels involving Egypt, the United States, and Qatar. The deal suggested granting Hamas fighters a safe passage—either to a third country or to another region within Gaza—on the condition that:

  • They surrender their weapons,

  • They reveal the full tunnel map to Israel, and

  • Israel uses this information to dismantle Gaza’s subterranean network.

Egypt, concerned that renewed escalation in Rafah could ignite another round of conflict, was reportedly pushing strongly for the plan in order to maintain the ceasefire. However, Israel rejected the proposal, reiterating that it would not engage in agreements that allow armed militants to secure immunity. Hamas, for its part, has yet to issue a formal response.

Strategic Pressure and Political Calculus

Israel’s continued operations in Rafah highlight the strategic pressure being applied on Hamas’s last major stronghold in the south. Analysts note that by eliminating tunnel networks and those inside them, Israel aims to degrade Hamas’s command infrastructure—long regarded as the backbone of its military resilience.

Hamas, however, has neither confirmed nor denied Israel’s latest claims, maintaining its usual silence on underground casualties. The lack of clarity has further deepened the information vacuum surrounding one of the most secretive theatres of the conflict.

Implications for the Ceasefire

Diplomats warn that the situation in Rafah remains the most sensitive flashpoint in Gaza. Any large-scale military activity could jeopardize the already fragile ceasefire, which international stakeholders have spent months trying to preserve.

As both sides remain entrenched in their positions—Israel refusing concessions and Hamas withholding official comment—prospects for a humanitarian or negotiated solution for the trapped fighters appear increasingly slim.