Israel Claims 40 Hamas Militants Trapped In Gaza Tunnel

Israeli troops above the underground network in Gaza. (Wikimedia Commons/Israel Defense Forces)

JAKARTA - The Israeli military on Thursday said its forces managed to kill about 40 Hamas militants trapped in a tunnel under Rafah in southern Gaza, in the region now under Israeli control.

Militants killed included at least three local commanders, the Israeli military said on Thursday, as well as the son of one of the exiled Hamas leaders, Ghazi Hamad, as reported by Al Arabiya from Reuters (5/12).

Meanwhile, a number of Hamas sources confirmed the death of at least one commander, Mohammad al-Babab, although the group has not officially confirmed the report.

Hamas has not officially confirmed the number of people trapped or how much may remain.

A spokesman for the group in Gaza declined to comment on the alleged murder of 40 gunmen by Israel.

It is known that some 200 militants have been trapped in tunnels for months, according to Israeli and US officials, although some have emerged and died in clashes with Israeli forces or have surrendered, Israeli media reported.

Washington and other mediators have been working to reach an agreement for Hamas fighters to lay down arms, in exchange for access to other parts of the bag, but the negotiations have failed.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff said the deal would be a test for a wider process of dismantling Hamas weapons throughout Gaza.