The Israel Defense Forces eliminated four Palestinian terrorists who emerged from the besieged tunnels in southern Gaza’s Rafah area overnight on Saturday, the military said.
“IDF troops operating in eastern Rafah identified four terrorists who exited the underground infrastructure in the area,” stated the IDF in English. “Guided by the IAF, the troops eliminated all four terrorists.”
According to Israel’s Channel 12 News broadcaster, the military was checking whether the commander of Hamas’s East Rafah Battalion, which oversees the entire tunnel network, was among those slain.
Channel 14 News cited security sources confirming that the battalion commander, his deputy and security guard were killed in the operation.
Jerusalem has reportedly been facing U.S. pressure not to kill the dozens of terrorists barricaded inside the Rafah tunnel network, which falls within IDF-controlled territory under the U.S.-brokered ceasefire.
Ynet reported on Nov. 11 that Israel was considering a proposal under which the terrorists would surrender and lay down their weapons in return for amnesty or exile, while their tunnels would be destroyed.
However, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told Qatar’s Al Araby Television Network on Nov. 10 that the gunmen would not surrender, while Turkey was reportedly working to secure their freedom.
Meanwhile, Israel’s military was preparing for the possibility that more terrorists could emerge from the tunnels and carry out attacks as their food and water are running out.
Last week, around 20 terrorists tried to escape from the Rafah tunnels. Several of them surrendered and were taken for questioning in Israel.
