Israel, with U.S. coordination, proposes surrender and exile for trapped Hamas terrorists in Rafah tunnels—disarmament or annihilation now their only options.
In a dramatic turn in the Rafah standoff, Israel has reportedly offered Hamas operatives trapped in a tunnel under the Al-Genina neighborhood a stark choice: surrender your weapons and abandon terror, or face certain death underground.
According to Channel 12 News, the proposal — coordinated between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy, Jared Kushner — outlines a humanitarian exit framework under which the terrorists would disarm, renounce violence, and accept exile to a yet-unnamed third country. In return, they would receive temporary amnesty and the possibility of returning to Gaza after several years under international supervision.
A senior Israeli official confirmed, “If they lay down their weapons and commit to ending all terror activity, Israel will permit them to exit the tunnel safely.”
The plan is part of a broader U.S.-Israel effort to bring the Rafah confrontation — the last major Hamas stronghold — to a peaceful close. American officials acknowledged Washington’s involvement, describing it as “active coordination” to prevent further bloodshed while upholding Israel’s right to eliminate the terror infrastructure beneath Rafah.
However, no third country has yet agreed to host the Hamas fighters, complicating implementation. Sources involved in the discussions said that several nations — including Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey — have been approached but remain reluctant to absorb operatives implicated in acts of terror.
Despite the diplomatic hurdles, Israeli and American negotiators expressed “cautious optimism” that a breakthrough could emerge in the coming days. The Rafah tunnel remains one of Hamas’s most fortified and strategically critical escape routes, believed to house senior commanders and advanced weapon stockpiles.
A senior Israeli defense source underscored the stakes:
“This is their last chance. If they come out, they live. If they stay, the IDF will finish the job.”
The proposed framework represents a rare convergence of Israeli resolve and U.S. diplomatic engagement, blending uncompromising security demands with a humanitarian option — a hallmark of Israel’s approach throughout the conflict.
