Hamas is considering conditioning the return of the bodies of two Israeli soldiers to allowing its entrapped fighters safe exit from tunnels in Rafah to Palestinian-controlled areas, as the siege on southern Gaza intensifies, according to two senior Hamas officials who spoke to Al Manassa.
The officials detailed ongoing negotiations mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the US aimed at resolving the crisis of over 250 fighters besieged by Israeli forces inside a network of tunnels beneath Rafah and eastern Khan Younis.
Intermediaries relayed an Israeli proposal in recent days, one official explained, that demanded Hamas fighters surrender in their underwear, disarm, and accept exile to third countries. After consultations with the Qassam Brigades leadership inside Gaza, the movement firmly rejected the offer.
“What Israel failed to achieve through two years of war, it now seeks through humiliation and coercion,” the official added. “They want a photo-op of our fighters stripped and degraded. That will not happen.”
Hamas insists that fighters must be allowed to return with dignity to Palestinian-held areas or be remembered as martyrs. “There is no third option,” the official added.
While affirming Hamas’s commitment to the current ceasefire framework, a second source warned that the movement may not be able to contain the anger among its ranks due to the ongoing siege and violations, including the Israeli assassination and detention of tunnel-bound fighters.
Hamas is actively considering conditioning the delivery of the remains of two Israeli occupation soldiers on the safe evacuation of its trapped fighters, the official explained to Al Manassa.
The group has also called for International Committee of the Red Cross access to the fighters and for field commanders to be permitted to inform them of developments, the official added.
Meanwhile, Qassam Brigades units have launched recovery operations for another Israeli body believed to be buried in central Gaza. This comes just days after the remains of one Israeli detainee were returned under an agreement mediated with Islamic Jihad’s military wing, Saraya Al-Quds.
Last week, Israeli media claimed that its government offered amnesty and return to Gaza for surrendering fighters—conditional on disarmament and an end to “terrorist activity.” The proposal, widely seen as exploitative and cynical, was rejected by Hamas.
Unrevealed Israeli sources told Channel 12 that six Hamas fighters emerged from tunnels on Wednesday. Four were executed, and two were captured.
On Sunday, Hamas confirmed it had lost contact with fighters inside Rafah tunnels, which lie within the so-called “yellow line” an expanding area currently under full Israeli military control.
A senior Hamas delegation met with Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad in Cairo earlier this week to discuss ceasefire violations and the fate of the Rafah fighters. Despite continued mediation, Israel has persisted with targeted strikes on the tunnels.
The movement’s field leadership has stated it would opt for open confrontation in Rafah if Israel continues to sabotage the ongoing negotiations, a senior Hamas official had previously revealed to Al Manassa.
Mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and the US continue to pursue a second-phase agreement that would secure Israeli withdrawal, rebuild Gaza, and deliver urgently needed humanitarian aid.
