Reports Point to Talks on Moving Rafah Tunnel Fighters to Turkey as Prisoner Swap at Risk

Overview

• Maan, via TASS, reports consultations involving the United States, Turkey and other states on relocating Hamas al‑Qassam fighters from the Israeli‑controlled area near Rafah to Turkey with later dispersion.
• The talks are reported to exclude Israel, though TASS says Israel is aware of the idea and does not object in principle.
• The Washington Post, cited by RIA, reports the United States urged Israel not to kill the fighters hiding in Rafah’s tunnels, warning this could unravel President Trump’s peace plan and the truce.
• Estimates of the fighters still trapped vary widely across outlets, ranging from roughly 50–60 to 200–300.
• Asharq Al‑Awsat, via RIA, says completion of the exchange is in jeopardy as searches for four deceased hostages stall, with some remains believed east of the ‘yellow line’ and recoverable only with Israeli approval for intensified searches.