Israel Offers Disarmed Rafah Operatives Safe Passage Under U.S. Plan

Israel has put forward a proposal to permit operatives to exit the extensive tunnel network in Rafah provided they surrender weapons, according to reporting by The Times of Israel. The plan, described as U.S. backed, is meant to break a standoff over militants who have been sheltering in tunnels beneath the Rafah area on the Gaza border, an enclave that has been a focal point of recent Israeli operations and intense international concern.

Senior Israeli and U.S. intermediaries including an envoy referenced in other reports have been engaged in talks to resolve what officials called an impasse over how to handle fighters deeply embedded in fortified tunnel systems. The proposal appears designed to avoid a large scale ground assault into Rafah that could produce significant civilian casualties and further complicate diplomatic efforts to stabilize the enclave.

The operational details remain unclear, including where disarmed operatives would go, whether they would remain in Gaza under new constraints, be detained, or be transferred elsewhere. International humanitarian organizations and regional states are closely watching the negotiations because any movement of fighters raises questions about compliance with international humanitarian law and the treatment of persons who may be implicated in attacks.

The diplomatic context has shifted in recent days. Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas made a high profile visit to Paris where he met with French president Emmanuel Macron. France announced it would assist in drafting a constitution for a prospective Palestinian state, a gesture that underscores growing European interest in post conflict governance arrangements and in enhancing the Palestinian Authority role in any political settlement. Abbas also toured European capitals in search of backing for Palestinian institutional capacity and political guarantees.

At the same time, Israeli domestic and regional politics complicate the calculus. Reports indicate that Jared Kushner remains involved in attempts to bridge differences between Israeli leadership and U.S. negotiators over the fate of militants in Rafah. Israeli leaders have warned against permitting hardened fighters to reconstitute their capabilities, a risk that informs the insistence on disarmament as part of any exit arrangement.

The West Bank remains tense. Footage circulating on social media showed the aftermath of an alleged settler attack near Tulkarem, underscoring how violence between settlers and Palestinians continues to add pressure to the diplomatic landscape. Meanwhile the Palestinian Authority, which formed a new government in March of 2024, faces the dual task of asserting political legitimacy while navigating the competing pressures of Gaza related crises and international state building initiatives.

Any deal that allows fighters to leave Rafah will be scrutinized for its legal and security implications. Questions will include whether transfers would meet obligations under international law, how accountability for violent acts would be preserved, and what verification mechanisms would be employed to ensure disarmament is genuine. As talks continue, the international community will be watching whether the proposed arrangement can reduce immediate violence while paving the way for longer term political solutions that include robust Palestinian governance and safeguards for civilians.