File Photo: Hamas fighters gather at the site of the handing over of two Israeli captives in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. AFP
In a statement, Hamas condemned Israel’s actions as “a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza” and “evidence of ongoing attempts to undermine and blow up this agreement.”
The Palestinian resistance group said it had worked over the past month with political leaders and mediators to resolve the situation and secure the fighters’ return, adding that it had proposed “specific ideas and mechanisms” and remained in contact with mediators and the United States as "one of the guarantors of the ceasefire."
Hamas said Israel had “blown up all these efforts, choosing killing, pursuit, and arrest,” accusing it of undermining mediators' efforts, who worked extensively with international parties to end the suffering of these fighters.
“We hold Israel fully responsible for the lives of our fighters and call on mediators to take immediate action to pressure Israel to allow our sons to return home,” the statement said.
In early November, sources told Al Jazeera that indirect talks were underway between Hamas and Israel to secure the safe exit of resistance fighters from areas beyond Gaza’s Yellow Line, the boundary marking Israel’s withdrawal and its control over roughly half the territory.
The proposal would see fighters escorted in Red Cross vehicles through designated safe corridors to avoid clashes with Israeli forces.
Sources said Hamas agreed to the proposal and mediators were waiting for Israel’s response, but no progress has been reported, and the fighters remain trapped.
Under the ceasefire deal, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and the US in early October, the yellow line was meant to serve as a temporary boundary marking the first stage of Israel’s withdrawal.
Instead, Israel has expanded its presence around the line, reinforcing it with barriers and fortifications. Israeli forces have repeatedly opened fire without warning at Palestinians attempting to cross or approach the area to check homes, retrieve belongings, or return to their communities.
Last week, Hamas accused Israel of violating the ceasefire by "its ongoing efforts to shift the Yellow Line westward daily,” leading to the further displacement of Palestinians.
Israel has also carried out several strikes on Gaza despite the truce, killingmore than 330 Palestinians and wounding hundreds. In tandem, the Israeli occupation has restricted the entry of humanitarian aid to 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza in violation of the terms of th truce.
Since the start of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023, more than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 173,000 wounded, mostly women and children.
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