US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff (Credit: AFP)
Proposal emerges to disarm Hamas fighters in Rafah
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- Hamas fighters in Rafah may surrender arms for safe passage under Egyptian-mediated proposal.
- US envoy sees deal as test for broader disarmament across Gaza.
- Ceasefire since October 10 has faced attacks and retaliatory strikes.
- Trump's Gaza plan envisions Hamas demilitarization and international supervision.
A proposal is underway to have Hamas fighters in Rafah surrender their arms in exchange for safe passage to other parts of Gaza, sources familiar with the talks said.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff described the potential deal, which would affect around 200 fighters, as “a test for a broader process to disarm Hamas forces across Gaza.”
Since the ceasefire began on October 10, Rafah has been the scene of multiple attacks on 'Israeli' forces, which 'Israel' attributes to Hamas, though the group has denied involvement. Egyptian mediators have proposed that fighters surrender their weapons to Egypt and provide information on tunnels to facilitate their destruction, according to an Egyptian security official.
The recent attacks in Rafah triggered some of the worst violence since the ceasefire, leaving dozens of Palestinians killed. Sources noted that some fighters in Rafah, who have reportedly been out of contact since March, may not even be aware a ceasefire is in place.
The proposal aligns with the broader framework of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan, which envisions Hamas ultimately disarming, surrendering control of Gaza, and enabling governance by a technocratic Palestinian committee under international supervision, supported by a planned international security force. Witkoff indicated that this force is expected to be operational within three weeks, signaling the moment for Hamas to demilitarize the strip.
“We may see the model of what we're trying to do (across Gaza)... with these 200 fighters who are trapped in Rafah, and whether they're going to be able to raise their hands, walk out, turn over their weapons,” Witkoff said. “And so this will be one of the tests.”
