17 Hamas Terrorists Killed or Captured in Rafah After 24-Hour Pursuit

The IDF said Saturday night that its forces killed or captured all 17 Hamas terrorists who attempted to escape the underground tunnel network in eastern Rafah, concluding a 24-hour pursuit that unfolded over Shabbat. The military said the terrorists emerged from damaged tunnel shafts and tried to flee toward Israeli lines before being located by infantry units operating in the area.

The events come as Israel accuses Hamas of repeatedly violating the ceasefire, even as the terror group is reportedly preparing to send a delegation to Cairo for discussions on implementing the second phase of President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan.

The IDF said the pursuit began when several terrorists were spotted leaving the underground route in eastern Rafah. Forces of the Nahal Brigade engaged them throughout the night and into Saturday, killing 11 and capturing six. “In total, 11 terrorists were killed and six were arrested and transferred for further questioning by the Shin Bet,” the IDF said. It added that Southern Command forces “are deployed in the area in accordance with the agreement and will continue working to remove all threats, destroy terror infrastructure, and defend the area.”

Later in the day, troops conducting additional sweeps identified two more terrorists, most likely among those who fled the previous night. The soldiers opened fire and killed both men, bringing the total number of terrorists eliminated in the same tunnel sector to five within several hours.

The pursuit took place alongside multiple additional incidents across Rafah. On Saturday afternoon, Nachal forces shot and killed three terrorists moving in the same area, as part of what the army described as a broader effort to dismantle the “terror pocket” in Rafah. According to Channel 12, the trapped terrorists had been weakened after days underground, with several reporting during questioning that food and water were running out.

The IDF believes between 60 and 80 terrorists remain spread across separated tunnel compartments, with an estimated ten already dead. Each underground section contains roughly 30 men and that the commander of Hamas’s eastern Rafah battalion is still alive. Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir gave the terrorists “two options: surrender or be eliminated,” according to the network.

Separately, Saudi outlet Al-Hadath reported overnight that a Hamas delegation is expected to arrive in Cairo to discuss the second phase of the Trump ceasefire deal. The report came in hours after a Hamas gunman drove a jeep across the Yellow Line on a humanitarian road and opened fire at Israeli troops before being shot and killed. Israeli officials say such attacks represent ongoing attempts by Hamas to strike troops under the cover of the ceasefire.

In a statement Saturday night, the Prime Minister’s Office said Israel has upheld the ceasefire “in full,” while Hamas “did not.” The PMO said dozens of Hamas terrorists crossed Israel’s border lines during the pause “with the intention of attacking our soldiers,” and that Hamas simultaneously executed Palestinian civilians in Gaza. It added: “We again call on the mediators to insist that Hamas fulfill its part of the ceasefire agreement and President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan: Hamas must immediately return the three deceased hostages still held in its hands, complete the demilitarization process, and enable the full disarmament of Gaza.”

The army remains on alert in Rafah, with commanders warning that the remaining terrorists may attempt further attacks as pressure increases.