Hamas fighters trapped in tunnels present new obstacle to Gaza ceasefire progress

U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, returned to Israel on Monday as mediators faced a new hurdle in their efforts to advance negotiations on the fragile Gaza ceasefire agreement to the next, more complex phase.

Key sticking points remain unresolved, including the disarmament of Hamas, the reconstruction and future governance of Gaza, and the deployment of an international security force to the region.

There are doubts that any progress can be made without a timetable for discussions that are likely to require significant concessions from both Israel and Hamas.

Another issue has recently emerged involving large numbers of Hamas fighters believed to be in tunnels behind the so-called “Yellow Line” under the southern city of Rafah, which marks territory under Israeli control.

Last week, US special envoy Steve Witkoff said amnesty could be offered for fighters who lay down their weapons, saying it could be a “model” for what Washington hopes to implement in the rest of Gaza.

Witkoff said 200 fighters were trapped, although that number was not confirmed.

According to media reports, Kushner and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the issue at a meeting in Jerusalem on Monday.

Hamas had previously stated that the fighters would not surrender and demanded that they be given safe passage, but this request has so far been rejected by Israel.

An Israeli government spokesman said Netanyahu and Kushner “discussed the first phase, which we are currently in, to bring in our remaining hostages, and the future of the second phase of this plan, which includes disarming Hamas, demilitarizing Gaza, and ensuring that Hamas no longer plays any role in the future of Gaza.”

The war in Gaza was triggered by a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, in which approximately 1,200 people were killed and 251 people were taken hostage.

Since then, more than 69,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, whose figures the UN considers reliable.

The first phase of the ceasefire, which took effect last month, focused on stopping the fighting, returning all hostages and increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza.

While the remains of 20 living hostages and 24 deceased prisoners were released, the bodies of 4 remained in Gaza.

In response, Israel released 250 Palestinian prisoners in prisons and 1,718 detainees in Gaza who were held without charge or trial. In addition, the bodies of 315 Palestinians were delivered from Gaza.

Both Israel and Hamas accuse each other of violating the ceasefire; Israel says Hamas deliberately delayed the return of the hostages’ remains, and Hamas says Israel killed at least 240 Palestinians and restricted the entry of aid supplies.

Hamas has previously rejected disarmament, saying it would only be done once a Palestinian state was established. Israel denies any interference in Gaza administration by the Western-backed Palestinian Authority, the body that governs parts of the occupied West Bank. Countries have been reluctant to send troops into the multinational force without clear objectives, fearing their troops could face fighters from Hamas and other Palestinian groups.

The Israeli army currently occupies 53% of Gaza’s territory and is expected to withdraw further in the next phase of the plan.

While there is no sign of progress in the negotiations any time soon, Sources speaking to the Reuters news agency said it was increasingly likely that Gaza would be effectively divided between an area controlled by Israel and an area controlled by Hamas.Talks regarding reconstruction are likely to be limited to Israeli-controlled territory.

Arab countries have already expressed concern that the current separation could turn into a permanent division of Gaza.

The Trump plan does not include a path to a Palestinian state, a concept that Israel rejects.