By: Fern Sidman

(JEWISH VOICE NEWS) A tense standoff continues in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where approximately 100 Hamas terrorists remain entrenched inside a fortified tunnel complex, refusing to surrender to Israeli forces. According to a report from Kan News, cited by Israel National News, the terrorists— members of Hamas’s elite Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades — have declared that they will not abandon their underground positions except under conditions they themselves dictate.

A Palestinian source in the Gaza Strip, speaking to Kan News, said the terrorists have conveyed their defiance to mediators, insisting that they will only emerge “in a manner they choose themselves” and “with dignity.” The statement underscores Hamas’s continued resistance to Israel’s military operations in Rafah, even as its forces face encirclement and mounting pressure.

According to the source quoted in the report on Monday at Israel National News, the tunnel in question is believed to serve as one of the group’s last operational strongholds in the area and is under the direct command of a senior Hamas military leader holding the rank of battalion commander or deputy commander. This figure is reportedly the most senior operative currently inside the tunnel network, orchestrating what Israeli defense officials have described as a “last stand” of entrenched resistance.

The report by Israel National News detailed that around 100 armed Hamas operatives remain barricaded within the subterranean network, equipped with limited supplies and under strict orders not to surrender. Intelligence sources cited in related Israeli media suggest that these fighters are heavily armed and may possess hostages or sensitive operational materials, though no official confirmation has been made.

The tunnel system, which extends beneath densely populated civilian neighborhoods in Rafah, has been a focal point of Israeli military operations since the start of the IDF’s southern campaign earlier this year. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have been systematically targeting the tunnel network — described by Israeli officials as one of Hamas’s largest remaining underground complexes — with precision airstrikes, ground incursions, and controlled demolitions.

Despite heavy bombardment and the destruction of dozens of adjacent tunnels, the group of fighters inside this particular Rafah tunnel continues to hold out. Israel National News reported that Hamas’s military wing has issued internal communications lauding their resistance and describing them as “martyrs of steadfastness,” while urging other cells to maintain morale amid Israel’s ongoing offensive.

According to the Palestinian source cited by Kan News and relayed through Israel National News, the group inside the tunnel is being commanded by a high-ranking Hamas officer, possibly at the level of a battalion commander or deputy commander. Israeli analysts believe this individual may be linked to the organization’s southern command structure, which continues to coordinate limited operations in Rafah despite sustained IDF pressure.

The commander’s presence has reportedly contributed to the fighters’ refusal to surrender, with his orders emphasizing defiance even in the face of isolation. The same source told Kan News that the terrorists’ statements about leaving the tunnels “with dignity” reflect their intent to resist capture and negotiate terms of withdrawal through mediators rather than submit unconditionally.

Israeli military sources quoted by Israel National News have noted that the IDF is closely monitoring communications and movements in the Rafah sector, attempting to determine whether the entrenched group intends to fight to the end or stage an organized breakout.

Rafah, located along the Egyptian border, has long been viewed as a critical stronghold for Hamas. The city serves as a key logistical hub, housing extensive tunnel networks used for smuggling weapons, equipment, and personnel between Gaza and the Sinai Peninsula. Israeli forces have conducted major operations in Rafah in recent months to dismantle this infrastructure, which they believe plays a central role in sustaining Hamas’s military capabilities.

As Israel National News reported, the IDF’s campaign in Rafah has focused not only on eliminating senior Hamas commanders but also on destroying underground command centers, weapons depots, and tunnel shafts that connect to Egypt. Military officials have said the discovery of complex, multi-level tunnels equipped with ventilation systems and fortified chambers illustrates the extent of Hamas’s preparations in anticipation of an extended confrontation.

The tunnel currently housing the 100 terrorists is believed to be part of this same network, possibly connected to broader subterranean routes extending several kilometers. Security sources told Israel National News that the IDF has refrained from storming the tunnel directly due to its length, booby traps, and potential presence of hostages or civilians above ground.

Hamas officials have continued to frame their resistance in Rafah as a symbol of persistence in the face of overwhelming military pressure. The group’s refusal to surrender, even as Israeli forces tighten their perimeter around the area, has been described by analysts cited by Israel National News as part of the organization’s propaganda strategy — an attempt to project strength despite heavy losses across Gaza.

Israeli defense sources, however, have downplayed the strategic significance of the holdouts, emphasizing that the group is “effectively isolated” and lacks meaningful command and control links with Hamas’s central leadership. Nonetheless, the presence of senior operatives inside the tunnel suggests that Israel views the standoff as a critical opportunity to neutralize key figures within Hamas’s military hierarchy.

The IDF continues to employ advanced surveillance drones and ground sensors in Rafah to track any signs of movement within the tunnel system. In recent weeks, Israeli engineers have also deployed specialized robotic units designed to detect explosives and map subterranean passageways.

As reported by Israel National News, the situation in Rafah remains fluid, with ongoing negotiations involving intermediaries attempting to secure the surrender of the trapped Hamas fighters. However, based on statements from the group and intelligence assessments, such an outcome appears unlikely in the immediate term.

For now, Israeli military sources confirm that the tunnel remains sealed off on multiple sides, with the IDF maintaining constant surveillance and operational readiness to respond to any attempted escape or renewed attacks.

The confrontation — centered deep beneath one of Gaza’s most volatile cities — encapsulates the enduring challenge Israel faces in dismantling Hamas’s entrenched military network and the terrorists continuing refusal to yield, even as their strategic position collapses.