U.S. mediators met with Israel’s prime minister as attention turns to the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire plan. The immediate crisis centers on roughly 200 Hamas fighters trapped in tunnels under Rafah; Hamas demands their safe passage, which Israel has resisted. Negotiators are considering disarm-and-relocate options as a test case, while longer-term issues include a transitional Gaza authority without Hamas, an international stabilization force and reconstruction. Tensions remain high with continued strikes and militant attacks since the truce.
Standoff in Rafah: ~200 Hamas Fighters Trapped in Tunnels as Ceasefire Talks Move to Critical Second Phase
U.S. mediators met with Israel’s prime minister as attention turns to the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire plan. The immediate crisis centers on roughly 200 Hamas fighters trapped in tunnels under Rafah; Hamas demands their safe passage, which Israel has resisted. Negotiators are considering disarm-and-relocate options as a test case, while longer-term issues include a transitional Gaza authority without Hamas, an international stabilization force and reconstruction. Tensions remain high with continued strikes and militant attacks since the truce.
11:20 PM, 11/10/2025Conflict
Standoff in Rafah Escalates as Ceasefire Talks Shift Focus
JERUSALEM/CAIRO, Nov 10 — U.S. envoys, including Jared Kushner, met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as international attention shifted to the second and more complicated phase of the Gaza ceasefire plan. The immediate and pressing issue is a standoff over roughly 200 Hamas fighters believed to be holed up in tunnels beneath Rafah — an area still controlled by Israel’s military.
Core dispute: fighters, safe passage and disarmament
An Israeli government spokesperson said the talks covered disarming Hamas, demilitarizing Gaza and preventing the group from returning to a governing role — priorities intended for the next stage of negotiations. Hamas insists the fighters be allowed to leave the tunnels; Israel has so far resisted that demand.
U.S. envoys have proposed treating the Rafah group as a test case: allow safe passage into Hamas-controlled areas in exchange for disarmament. Israeli officials are cautious about permitting any movement either within Gaza or into Egypt, according to Western diplomats.
Stabilization force and wider political questions
Negotiators also discussed an international stabilization force for Gaza envisaged under the ceasefire blueprint. Such a force would likely require a clear mandate — potentially from the United Nations — and willing troop-contributing countries. The United Arab Emirates has said it does not yet see a clear framework and would not participate under current conditions.
Longer-term progress depends on agreement about a transitional governing body for Gaza that excludes Hamas, the formation and rules of engagement for a stabilization force, Hamas disarmament and a reconstruction plan. Each element risks strong pushback from one or both sides.
Humanitarian and security concerns
Both sides accuse the other of violating the October ceasefire: Israel says Hamas has delayed returning hostage remains, while Hamas accuses Israel of obstructing aid deliveries. On Sunday, Hamas returned the body of an Israeli soldier killed in Gaza more than a decade ago. Reports say the remains of four hostages taken at the outbreak of the most recent war remain in Gaza; recovery may be difficult.
Local health authorities report repeated Israeli airstrikes and at least two deadly attacks by Palestinian militants on Israeli forces in Rafah. They attribute 244 Palestinian deaths to strikes since the truce agreement. Local officials additionally reported two Palestinians, including a child, killed in a southern Gaza airstrike on Monday, and another man killed by Israeli fire on Sunday. Israel’s military did not immediately comment on those incidents.
Outlook: Resolving the Rafah standoff without triggering further violence is a key, immediate test for the broader ceasefire plan. Negotiators hope a negotiated solution for the trapped fighters could set precedent for tackling the plan’s more difficult political and security components.
Reporting originally by Reuters correspondents in Jerusalem and Cairo; article edited for clarity and flow.