Gaza Herald – Israeli forces announced on Friday that three Palestinian fighters were killed in an overnight airstrike targeting what it described as an underground tunnel east of Rafah, in southern Gaza.
In a military statement, the Israeli army claimed it had identified eight armed individuals emerging from the tunnel and carried out aerial strikes, followed by additional attacks on nearby areas where others allegedly attempted to flee. The army said it is still assessing the results of the operation.
The announcement comes amid unresolved negotiations previously disclosed by Hamas in late 2025, regarding efforts by mediators to secure the safe exit of around 200 Qassam Brigades fighters trapped in a Rafah tunnel, talks Israel reportedly rejected.
The incident occurs despite the declared ceasefire in Gaza and the launch of its second phase earlier this month, underscoring ongoing hostilities and contested narratives surrounding events on the ground.
Since the ceasefire took effect on October 10, Israeli violations have reportedly killed more than 511 Palestinians and wounded at least 1,356 others, according to Palestinian sources, following a two-year genocide that devastated Gaza’s civilian infrastructure.
