Israel Rejects Safe Passage To Allow Terrorists To Return to Hamas-Controlled Gaza

Latest Development

• Hamas Terrorists on Israeli Side of ‘Yellow Line’: Israel will not grant safe passage to an estimated 200 Hamas terrorists currently positioned behind the “yellow line” in IDF-controlled areas of the Gaza Strip, an Israeli official stated on November 3. The clarification came in response to condemnation by Israeli lawmakers of earlier media reports that Israel would consider granting the terrorists — believed to be hiding in tunnels mostly in southern Gaza — safe passage to Hamas-controlled parts of Gaza if they surrender their weapons and release additional bodies of slain Israeli hostages. Israeli media reported that the United States is pressuring Israel to permit the exchange in the hope that doing so will allow the Trump administration’s 20-point plan for Gaza to progress into subsequent stages.
• U.S. Spies Hamas Stealing Aid: Hamas continues to loot aid intended for Palestinian civilians in Gaza. On October 31, a video released by the U.S.-led Civil-Military Coordination Center showed that a U.S. MQ-9 drone monitoring implementation of the Gaza ceasefire spotted Hamas operatives looting an aid truck near Khan Younis. Hamas has been accused of stealing aid from the outset of the war in Gaza, with the United Nations reporting in August that 88 percent of humanitarian aid trucks in Gaza were looted between May and August 2025. The United Nations stated on November 1 that looting had declined to just 5 percent since the October 10 ceasefire.
• U.S. Citizen Among Hostage Bodies Released: The Iran-backed terrorist organization also released the bodies of three Israeli hostages who were murdered during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, atrocities in Israel. One of the bodies was that of an American citizen, IDF Cpt. Omer Neutra, alongside Col. Asaf Hamami and Staff Sgt. Oz Daniel. The release came days after Hamas claimed to release three hostage bodies to Israel, which turned out to be unidentified individuals after DNA tests were completed by Israel. Hamas still holds the bodies of eight Israeli hostages.

FDD Expert Response

“Even at the reported behest of the United States, it was a bold move for Israel to consider granting safe passage to Hamas members, some of whom are likely complicit in the killing of IDF soldiers. Strategically, decision-makers in Jerusalem may have viewed the proposal as a calculated opportunity to leverage concessions in the ongoing ceasefire negotiations, seeking to balance military imperatives with potential diplomatic advantages. However, the backlash from the public and Israeli officials appears to have eliminated the possibility that a potential deal will go forward.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal

“The fact that Hamas is using the remaining slain hostages as a bargaining chip to trade for terrorists demonstrates that Israeli leaders were correct all along: Hamas is lying about not knowing the location of the remaining hostage bodies. Washington and our allies should apply maximum pressure on Hamas to comply with President Trump’s ceasefire plan: return the slain hostages, lay down their arms, and relinquish control of Gaza.” — Enia Krivine, Senior Director of FDD’s Israel Program and National Security Network

FDD Background and Analysis

“Turkey Hosts Meeting of Leading Islamic Foreign Ministers To Discuss Future of Gaza,” FDD Flash Brief

“2 Caskets Reportedly Containing Slain Hostages Returned to Israel After Hamas Ceasefire Violations,” FDD Flash Brief

“Hamas Attacks IDF Troops in Rafah, Drawing Israeli Response,” FDD Flash Brief

“‘Cruel Games’: Hamas Returns Remains of Hostage Body Previously Recovered by IDF,” FDD Flash Brief