Khaberni - The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation "Kan" revealed this Wednesday evening that Israel is conducting secret negotiations with Hamas through mediators, to allow a safe passage for dozens of fighters holed up in a tunnel in the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, in exchange for the return of the body of Israeli soldier Hadar Goldin, who was killed and his body captured during the 2014 war.
"Kan" reported that the Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir held a special session at the beginning of the week regarding the tunnel, where between 80 to 120 Hamas fighters are fortified, and decided that they shall not withdraw unless Goldin's body is handed over, emphasizing that they must be unarmed.
Israeli security sources confirmed that Goldin's body is actually held inside the same tunnel in Al-Jeneina neighborhood in Rafah, and that the army refrains from bombing it for fear of losing any trace of him, stressing that Hamas is able to deliver him "at any moment".
The sources described the tunnel as a "complex path", and the Israeli army began mapping it, but the political level has not yet made a final decision.
"Kan" had revealed at the beginning of the week that the mediators (Egypt and Qatar) are pressing Israel to allow the safe passage for the fighters trapped inside the areas occupied by Israel, warning that the continuation of the clashes in Rafah threatens the execution of the entire agreement.
The negotiations were conducted without Israel's knowledge initially, and were reported to it in the latter stages.
For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to allow the fighters to return to Hamas-controlled areas, but the issue has caused sharp internal divisions between those who see it as an opportunity to press for the recovery of the bodies, and others who fear that it would give legitimacy for Hamas's control over the captives.
It is noted that Hadar Goldin is one of two Israeli soldiers killed in the 2014 war, whose bodies have been held by Hamas since then.
