Deep beneath the ruins of Rafah, south of Gaza, the war is not over yet.
Weeks after a ceasefire was established, dozens of Hamas militants remain trapped in underground tunnels behind Israeli lines as mediators desperately try to find a solution that won't destroy the fragile peace, CNN writes.
The question of what to do with the nearly 200 Hamas fighters in territory now occupied by Israel has grown from a tactical issue to a sensitive diplomatic one with no clear solution.
The cells they are in, the exact number and location of which is unknown, have been embedded in tunnels since a ceasefire a month ago that divided Gaza along the so-called Yellow Line.
Under the agreement, Israel controls the area east of the line, while Hamas reasserts authority west of it.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made it clear that he has no intention of simply allowing Hamas fighters to return to Hamas-controlled territory.
On the other hand, Hamas has announced that its militants will never surrender nor lay down their arms.
The Trump administration has also been actively involved in resolving the issue, putting pressure on Israel to reach a lasting solution.
According to two Israeli sources, Trump's son-in-law and US envoy Jared Kushner discussed the issue with Netanyahu in meetings earlier this week.
"The Americans want to move to the next phase and close the Rafah prisoners' file," one of the sources said.
The second phase of the ceasefire should include the establishment of an international security force in Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, and the further withdrawal of Israeli forces.
Each of these steps requires difficult negotiations, and the fate of the militants trapped in the tunnels further complicates the already complex diplomatic conundrum.
One of the ideas was to deport the militants to a third country, with Turkey mentioned as a possible option, but this solution did not materialize.
Meanwhile, with no solution on the horizon, the cells represent "a ticking time bomb."
With limited or no access to food and water, Hamas fighters face a simple choice: surrender or fight.
This situation is negatively affecting the ceasefire.
Muhammad Shehada, a Gaza specialist at the European Council on Foreign Relations, previously said that "Hamas doesn't even know how many of them are still alive there."
The stalemate has already proven to be a direct threat to the ceasefire that came into effect on October 10.
These isolated cells, detached from Hamas command, are believed to be responsible for recent attacks on Israeli forces that have provoked fierce retaliation and twice brought the ceasefire to the brink of collapse.
After two Israeli soldiers were killed in Rafah on October 19, Israel launched attacks that killed at least 44 Palestinians.
Just a week later, after the killing of another Israeli soldier, Israeli attacks killed more than 100 Palestinians, including dozens of children.
While diplomacy remains in place, neither Israel nor Hamas shows any intention of surrendering.
Prime Minister Netanyahu's office has issued several denials this week regarding reports of a possible release of what Israel calls terrorist cells.
"The prime minister has not committed to the Americans that he will release the prisoners from Rafah," a senior Israeli official said four days ago, adding a few hours later that "contrary to reports, there is no agreed solution."
On the other hand, Hamas' military wing issued a statement six days ago stating that "for them, the concept of siege or surrender to the enemy does not exist."
"They must find a solution to ensure the continuation of the ceasefire," the Al Qassam Brigades said.
In the absence of a solution, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) clashed with Hamas cells.
Three days ago, the IDF twice reported that its troops were operating to "dismantle underground infrastructure" after identifying "four terrorists" in Israeli-occupied areas.
In both cases, Israeli forces opened fire, claiming the actions were in accordance with a ceasefire that allowed for the destruction of the tunnels, which Hamas considers a clear violation of the agreement.
Netanyahu is under intense pressure from the Israeli right to reject any deal that would allow militants safe passage.
Former Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said this four days ago.
"For terrorists who killed IDF soldiers after the ceasefire was declared, there should be only two options: surrender and imprisonment or death," he said.
Such political pressure significantly narrows Netanyahu's options, as any concessions to Hamas would face harsh criticism.
Under the US plan, Hamas militants could receive amnesty if they surrender their weapons and commit to "peaceful coexistence".
While the issue of secret fighters is unlikely in itself to derail the entire peace effort, in which the US is investing huge political capital, it presents another difficult obstacle for mediators trying to preserve a fragile ceasefire. /Telegraph/
