Türkiye Attempts Evacuation of 200 Civilians Trapped in Gaza Tunnel as Ceasefire Hangs in Balance
Cairo, Egypt – Türkiye is working to evacuate 200 civilians reportedly trapped within a network of tunnels in the Gaza Strip, as tensions rise and threaten a month-long ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The effort comes amid a standoff in Rafah, where Hamas fighters have vowed not to surrender to Israeli forces currently operating in the area.
The potential collapse of the ceasefire and the plight of civilians sheltering in tunnels underscores the fragility of the situation in Gaza. The ongoing conflict has created a humanitarian crisis, forcing many Gazans to seek refuge underground. Türkiye’s intervention highlights the international concern for civilian safety and the urgent need for a lasting resolution.
egyptian mediators have proposed a deal to Hamas: in exchange for safe passage to other parts of Gaza, hamas fighters in Rafah would surrender their weapons to Egypt and reveal the locations of tunnels for destruction. Hamas has not directly responded to the proposal but warned that any crisis in rafah could jeopardize the existing ceasefire.
“The enemy must know that the concept of surrender and surrender is not in the al-Qassam Brigades dictionary,” Hamas stated on Sunday, referring to its military wing. The group also urged mediators to find a solution that would prevent Israel from using the situation as a pretext to target civilians.
Hamas further emphasized the responsibility of mediators to ensure the continuation of the ceasefire, stating, “We put the mediators above their responsibility, and they must find solutions…and prevent the enemy from using flimsy pretexts to violate it, and exploiting the situation to target innocent civilians in Gaza.”
