Rafah: Four Israeli soldiers were injured in clashes with Hamas fighters in Rafah, the southern Gaza Strip, the army announced. The military statement detailed that one soldier sustained severe injuries while three others were moderately injured during the confrontation in eastern Rafah.
According to Anadolu Agency, Channel 14 reported that the clashes erupted when three Palestinian fighters allegedly emerged from a tunnel in Rafah and launched anti-tank rockets at Israeli forces. In response, Israeli forces retaliated with helicopter fire, resulting in the death of two fighters. The third Palestinian reportedly attached an explosive device to an Israeli armored vehicle before retreating into the tunnel. Public broadcaster KAN confirmed that an Israeli helicopter targeted the area where the third fighter fled.
No immediate comment has been issued from Hamas concerning these incidents. Israeli media reports indicate that approximately 200 Hamas fighters remain trapped inside underground tunnels in Rafah. Tel Aviv has yet to respond to demands from Hamas and mediators to permit safe passage for these fighters to areas under Hamas control.
In a separate claim, the Israeli army stated that it had killed over 40 Palestinian fighters in recent operations targeting the tunnels in Rafah. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address the crisis involving the trapped fighters during a phone call on Monday.
Channel 12 disclosed that Washington has been pushing for a resolution between Israel and Hamas, proposing that the fighters surrender in exchange for amnesty and a 'safe corridor' either to Hamas-controlled areas or a third country. The US administration sees this as a potential model for disarming Hamas, but has expressed dissatisfaction with Israel's reluctance to engage with this proposal.
A ceasefire agreement, mediated by Trkiye, Egypt, and Qatar with US backing, has been in effect in Gaza since October 10. The initial phase of the ceasefire involves the release of Israeli hostages in return for Palestinian prisoners, along with plans to rebuild Gaza and establish a new governance model excluding Hamas.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in the death of more than 70,000 individuals, predominantly women and children, and injured nearly 171,000 others in Gaza since October 2023, according to reports.