Prime Minister rejects reports of allowing 200 Hamas terrorists safe passage from Rafah; vows to disarm Hamas and protect soldiers.
A senior political official on Monday afternoon forcefully denied circulating reports that Israel is poised to green-light the exit of hundreds of Hamas militants from Rafah — territory currently under IDF control — into areas held by Hamas.
“The Prime Minister is not allowing the safe passage of 200 Hamas terrorists,” the official declared, underlining Jerusalem’s uncompromising line: disarm Hamas, demilitarize Gaza, and prevent renewed terror threats against Israeli forces and civilians. The government, the statement stressed, will not reward killers with safe returns or symbolic triumphs.
Security sources acknowledged why such a transfer has been discussed in some operational circles — chiefly to avoid exposing soldiers to unnecessary risk while search teams probe areas suspected of concealing additional bodies. According to reporting from international outlets, some militants are believed to be entrenched in underground tunnel networks in Rafah. Security officials say a careful tactical approach is necessary — but any operational solution must be consistent with the cabinet’s political and security objectives.
Estimates cited in the rumors put the number affected at roughly 200 militants captured or isolated in pockets in southern Gaza since the ceasefire. Israeli assessments linked some of those fighters to the killings of at least three IDF soldiers in the Rafah sector after the ceasefire took effect — a fact that has hardened public sentiment against any arrangement perceived as lenient.
The family of fallen soldier Efi Feldbaum issued a heartfelt public appeal aimed directly at the prime minister: do not “reward” terrorists. They framed the decision as a national test — to dismantle and eliminate Hamas, or to accept containment and arrangements that risk Israel’s security. “Are we selling out our security to mediators, or ensuring the safety of our nation and the welfare of our soldiers?” they asked, urging leadership to choose defeat of Hamas over compromises that might strengthen it.
Officials insisted decisions will be guided by concrete security needs and political red lines. Israel’s stated objective remains unambiguous: prevent a resurgence of Hamas’s military capability, secure the border, and ensure that those who murdered Israeli soldiers are not returned to celebrate as heroes.
As the debate swirls in military and political circles, the prime minister’s denial aims to close off speculation and reassure families and citizens that Israel will not exchange security for expedience — and that the nation will always prioritize the safety and dignity of its soldiers and civilians.
