Palestinian sources reported Monday morning that among the terrorists eliminated during fighting in the tunnels under

Rafah on Sunday was Abdallah Hamad — son of senior Hamas political bureau member Ghazi Hamad — a figure who reportedly

served on the terror group’s negotiating team. Sources added that in addition to the commander of the East Rafah

battalion, Abu Ahmed al‑Bawab, the operatives killed also included Ismail Abu Labda (also known as “Abu Hudayfa”) —

described by Palestinians as a coordinator of “hostage‑release ceremonies” and liaison with the Red Cross.

In recent days, the Israel Defense Forces has been issuing frequent updates on terrorists killed in tunnels under Rafah

or while exiting them, in the part of the Gaza Strip now controlled by Israel east of the Yellow Line. According to the

latest update, shared Sunday, the campaign against the so‑called “Rafah pocket” has already eliminated more than 40

terrorists and destroyed dozens of shafts, tunnels and other terror infrastructure.

According to Palestinian reports, Abdallah Hamad was part of a group of Hamas terrorists who became trapped in the

tunnels, and contact with them was lost after the ceasefire took effect in October. Hamad’s brother confirmed his death,

posting an obituary online that said his brother “met his fate and did not flee.”

After weeks of entrenchment and repeated limited engagements, including occasional IDF incursions under the underground

tunnels, the terrorists reportedly began seeking new hiding places — with some attempting escape, while others

reportedly prepared suicide attacks. The IDF has maintained strict surveillance over the entire tunnel network,

employing multiple detection and targeting methods; some of the trapped terrorists have been killed from the air, others

captured for interrogation.

A senior Hamas figure, Hussam Badran, responded to the killings by claiming that Israel had previously offered the

trapped terrorists a safe exit: to raise a white flag, leave the tunnels unarmed, and cross into Egypt — an offer he

says was “rejected outright.” Badran accused Israel of violating the ceasefire through “a continuous series of killings

aimed at thwarting the agreement.”

Meanwhile, the influential Arab‑world director Ezzeldeen Dwedar rejected claims that Hamas’ leadership had abandoned the

trapped terrorists. He argued that the death of Abdallah Hamad proves the leadership remains “in the tunnels,” and

instead blamed the mediators for “abandoning the Rafah fighters” by delaying action until they died, whether from

starvation or IDF operations.