Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected any deals to allow Hamas fighters trapped in the tunnels to leave.
Channel 14 reported that Netanyahu rejected a proposal attributed to the Israeli Army Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir, which involved a field evacuation of Al-Qassam fighters besieged in the tunnels in exchange for the return of the body of soldier Hadar Goldin.
Netanyahu was quoted as saying, “Hamas members have two options: either surrender or stay underground. We will not make any new deals outside the current agreement.”

Israel’s public broadcaster earlier announced that Israel is considering allowing 200 fighters to leave the area under its control in Gaza in exchange for the return of all captives’ bodies, while Channel 12 reported that the United States is pressuring the Israeli government to allow safe passage for Hamas fighters.