Moscow, Nov 10 (UNI/SPUTNIK) Approximately 200 civilians remain trapped in tunnels under the Gaza Strip, and Turkey is working to secure their safe passage, reported, a high-ranking Turkish official said.
“We are working to ensure the safe passage of some 200 Gazan civilians currently trapped in the tunnels,” the official said.
Earlier reports indicated that the US is pressing Israel to allow 150 Hamas militants to exit the Gaza tunnels in exchange for disarmament. These militants are reportedly located underground in southern Gaza but within the “yellow line” controlled by the Israeli army under the ongoing ceasefire.
A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect on October 10. As part of the agreement, Hamas released 20 hostages who had been held since October 7, 2023, while Israel freed roughly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including individuals serving life sentences.
Hamas is also returning the remains of hostages who died in captivity. So far, 22 bodies have been returned to Israel and identified, with six more remaining in Gaza.
Turkey previously facilitated the return of the remains of Israeli officer Hadar Goldin, killed in Gaza during the 2014 Israel-Hamas conflict.
The senior Turkish official said the handover “reflects Hamas’ clear commitment to the ceasefire.”
Palestinian militant group Hamas earlier said that fighters holed up in the Israeli-held Rafah area will not surrender to Israel and it urged mediators to find a solution to a crisis that threatens the month-old ceasefire
Turkey, a signatory to the recent Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal backed by the US, has close ties with Hamas and has criticized Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
