Hamas sends a message to the mediators regarding the besieged fighters in Rafah.

The Islamic Resistance Movement "Hamas" condemned the Israeli occupation's pursuit of its fighters trapped in the tunnels of Rafah for their elimination, asserting that this constitutes a blatant violation of the ceasefire.

The movement stated in a statement that it has made significant efforts to resolve their issue, but the Israeli occupation undermined them, calling on mediators to act quickly to bring them back.

Hamas added that "the brutal crime committed by the occupation through the pursuit, elimination, and arrest of the mujahideen trapped in the tunnels of Rafah city is a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and a damning evidence of the ongoing attempts to undermine and destroy this agreement."

It pointed out that Hamas "has made significant efforts throughout the past month with various political leaders and mediators to resolve the fighters' issue and return them to their homes, and has presented specific ideas and mechanisms to address this problem."

The statement also clarified that Hamas presented this "in full communication with the mediators and the American administration as one of the guarantors of the ceasefire agreement, but the occupation undermined all these efforts, prioritizing the language of killing, crime, pursuit, and arrest, thwarting the efforts of the mediators who worked hard with various international parties to put an end to the suffering of these heroic fighters."

Hamas held the Israeli occupation "fully responsible for the lives of our mujahideen," calling on "the brother mediators to take urgent action to pressure the occupation to allow our sons to return to their homes, as they are a unique model of sacrifice, heroism, and patience, and a symbol of the dignity and freedom of the Palestinian people."

Earlier, the Hebrew newspaper "Haaretz" highlighted the latest developments regarding the Hamas fighters trapped in Rafah city in southern Gaza Strip, quoting statements from officers in the occupation army confirming that the fighters do not surrender.

The newspaper quoted one Israeli officer with the rank of colonel, stating that Hamas fighters do not surrender, despite the army's use of aerial and ground means to strike them, noting that some have been killed and others arrested, but locating them is extremely complicated.

The officer indicated that the militants were likely part of a force belonging to Hamas in Rafah, but the army did not confront them initially.

He pointed to a pile of rubble that appears to have been a former building, confirming that the fighters are not in a single tunnel, but in a vast network of tunnels, and their routes and openings must be identified.

He mentioned that "the goal the Israeli army seeks to achieve is to force the militants to gather in one underground point and attack them if they refuse to surrender," emphasizing at the same time that they do not surrender after two years of war, and the army continues to search in the tunnels, a task that cannot end.

He confirmed that "our primary mission here is to kill or capture the militants inside the tunnels in this area," claiming that "most of the fighters are underground. Some come up to breathe or to bring equipment and food, but we use many combat methods to find and strike them."