Israeli Defense Forces troops eliminated two armed terrorists in western Rafah between 6:47 PM and 7:17 PM UTC on January 13, 2026, after field observers identified six suspects adjacent to deployed forces, according to an IDF statement issued during the period. Tanks fired on the terrorists following an exchange of fire and targeted aerial strikes, with troops continuing to search the area. The IDF described the incident as a blatant violation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. Commentator Amit Segal stated the terrorists emerged from a tunnel, with some returning inside, and noted dozens of tunnels still cross the yellow line in the area. This development follows an earlier report of IDF 7th Brigade tanks eliminating two terrorists in the same location around 4:46 PM UTC, amid broader ceasefire efforts. Separately, a Hamas delegation led by Khalil Al-Hayya arrived in Cairo to discuss advancing to the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, despite Hamas failing to fulfill first-phase obligations including the return of one Israeli hostage's body, according to an X post.
