Beneath the war-ravaged city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip, a silent and desperate standoff is threatening to unravel a fragile ceasefire. An estimated 100 to 200 Hamas fighters are trapped underground on the Israeli-controlled side of the line, cut off from supplies and facing a grim choice: surrender, attempt a breakout, or perish. This prolonged subterranean siege is now a major obstacle to diplomatic efforts aimed at establishing lasting stability in Gaza.
According to Israeli and Arab officials cited by The Wall Street Journal, the militants were caught behind Israeli lines when a U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect in late October 2025. Isolated in a labyrinth of tunnels, their situation is deteriorating as food and water supplies dwindle. In response, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have launched a methodical campaign to dismantle the tunnel network, employing drilling, explosives, and in some areas, flooding sections with seawater to force the fighters out.
Contested Narratives and Sporadic Clashes
The standoff is marked by conflicting accounts and ongoing violence. Hamas commanders claim fewer than 80 fighters remain, while Israeli intelligence believes the number is higher. Despite the broader ceasefire, small, lethal clashes persist around tunnel shafts and exits. The IDF reports that dozens of militants have been killed attempting to flee, and several Israeli soldiers have been wounded or killed in sudden encounters. Palestinian sources, meanwhile, allege that some Israeli operations in the area have resulted in civilian casualties.
For the trapped fighters, options are narrowing. Israel has offered safe passage only in exchange for surrender—a condition Hamas has so far rejected, just as it has refused the ceasefire's core demands to disarm and relinquish control of Gaza. This refusal transforms the tunnels from military infrastructure into a political statement, complicating international mediation.
A Stumbling Block for Diplomacy
This underground impasse directly hampers the transition to the ceasefire's next phase, which is intended to focus on new governing and security arrangements for Gaza. Instead of providing a model for peaceful disarmament, the entrenched fighters symbolize the unresolved hostilities and deep mistrust between the warring parties. The standoff underscores the extreme difficulty of achieving a clean end to the conflict, as long as armed factions remain active and in control of strategic territory.
The situation in the Rafah tunnels has become a critical test. Its resolution—whether through military force, negotiated surrender, or a tragic end for those trapped—will significantly influence whether the current pause in fighting can evolve into a durable peace or simply become an interlude before renewed conflict. The world watches to see if diplomacy can reach where bombs and floods have so far failed.
*Source: The Wall Street Journal, Newsmax, and other international news agencies.*
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