Netanyahu Denies Any Pledge to Release Hamas Fighters in Rafah

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday denied reports claiming that he had promised the United States to release Hamas fighters detained in the Rafah area, in southern Gaza.

In a statement carried by the Israeli Broadcasting Authority, Netanyahu’s office clarified that the prime minister did not commit to releasing the militants, responding to remarks by Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, who accused Netanyahu of having “promised the Americans to release the terrorists from Rafah without government approval,” calling the move “utter madness.”

A Hamas official had previously indicated that Turkey was working with mediators on the issue but did not provide details about the negotiations, describing it as a “sensitive security matter.”

Earlier, U.S. envoy Jared Kushner discussed with Netanyahu the issue of those trapped in Rafah as part of the next phase of the U.S. plan for Gaza. Additionally, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff stated last week that resolving this issue would serve as a test for future steps in the broader ceasefire plan, adding that a solution might include providing a safe corridor for the fighters to move to Hamas-controlled areas of the Strip.

It is estimated that around 200 fighters remain trapped in the Israeli-controlled zone of Rafah and are believed to be willing to surrender their weapons in exchange for safe passage to other areas — a situation that has complicated ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, which aim to end the two-year-long war and secure a stable post-conflict phase.