Hamas urges mediators to act over fighters trapped in Rafah

Hamas has condemned the Israeli pursuit of its fighters trapped in the Rafah tunnels, calling it a blatant violation of the ceasefire.

In a statement, the group said it had made extensive efforts to resolve the situation, but Israel undermined them, and it called on mediators to act quickly to secure the fighters’ return.

Hamas described the Israeli actions as a “brutal crime” targeting the fighters in Rafah’s tunnels, saying it clearly breaks the Gaza ceasefire and shows ongoing attempts to undermine the agreement.

The statement added that Hamas spent the past month working with political leaders and mediators to find a solution and bring the fighters home, offering specific proposals and mechanisms to address the issue.

Hamas also said it communicated fully with mediators and the US, as a guarantor of the ceasefire, but Israel ignored these efforts, relying instead on “killing, crime, pursuit, and detention,” undermining the mediators’ attempts to end the suffering of the trapped fighters.

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