Overview
- The Israel Defense Forces reported that four men identified as 'terrorists' were spotted leaving underground infrastructure in Rafah overnight and were killed in an air‑guided strike.
- The military said more than 40 fighters were killed over the past week during operations targeting the tunnel network near Rafah, with dozens of tunnel entrances and related sites dismantled.
- Israeli statements last week also cited over twenty alleged Hamas members killed while trying to flee tunnels in the area and eight arrests.
- Hamas has asked mediators to secure safe exits for its fighters; a Hamas official said 60 to 80 are trapped in Rafah tunnels, while a U.S. envoy earlier estimated up to 200 could be underground.
- An Israeli government spokesperson said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would not authorize safe passage for Hamas fighters, as Israel maintains operations under the ceasefire redeployment to degrade the group’s capabilities.