Hamas fighters entrenched in Rafah, the southernmost area of Gaza now under Israeli control, may soon surrender their weapons in exchange for safe passage to other parts of the enclave, according to sources close to ongoing mediation talks. The proposal, facilitated by Egyptian mediators, aims to preserve the fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire that began on October 10 and has already been tested by renewed violence.
Under the deal, approximately 200 Hamas fighters would hand over their arms to Egyptian authorities and disclose information about tunnel networks in Rafah to ensure their destruction. Although neither Israel nor Hamas has publicly accepted the proposal, discussions are reportedly underway. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff described the plan as a “test case” for a broader disarmament process across Gaza, part of U.S. President Donald Trump’s multi-phase peace initiative.
Since the ceasefire began, the Rafah region has witnessed deadly confrontations. Israel attributes recent attacks on its troops to Hamas, while the group denies involvement. These clashes resulted in three Israeli soldiers killed and dozens of Palestinians dead after retaliatory strikes. Two sources suggest that some Hamas fighters in Rafah may not even know the truce is in effect, having lost contact with leadership since March.
The current ceasefire marks the first step of Trump’s plan to end the Gaza conflict, which envisions Hamas disarming and transferring control of Gaza to a technocratic Palestinian committee overseen by an international peacekeeping force. Witkoff confirmed preparations for this security force are expected to conclude within weeks, signaling a decisive phase for Gaza’s demilitarization.
Since the truce, Hamas has released the final 20 living Israeli hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and returned the bodies of 22 deceased captives. Israel, meanwhile, has repatriated the remains of 285 Palestinians. The October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks left 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 kidnapped, while Israel’s retaliatory campaign has killed nearly 69,000 Palestinians to date.