Israel announced its intention to eliminate the remaining Hamas tunnels beneath Gaza, with the approval of the United States once the hostages are freed. Defense Minister Israel Katz revealed that the operation would be overseen through an “international mechanism” led by the US, the mediator of the current Gaza ceasefire. Katz emphasized the significant task of eradicating all Hamas tunnels in Gaza post-hostage release and instructed the army to prep for the mission.
Hamas has been utilizing an underground network of tunnels in Gaza for its fighters to evade Israeli surveillance. Some tunnels extend into Israel, enabling surprise assaults. While many tunnels were already destroyed during the two-year conflict initiated by Hamas’s cross-border attack in October 7, 2023, Katz emphasized the need to eliminate the remaining tunnels as part of Hamas’s disarmament and demilitarization, integral components of the US-brokered ceasefire plan.
As part of the initial phase of the plan, Hamas agreed to a ceasefire, set to release 48 Israeli hostages on Monday, both living and deceased. In return, Israel is expected to release 250 “national security prisoners,” some associated with lethal attacks, as well as 1,700 Gazans held in military detention. However, Hamas has shown reluctance towards disarming, with senior official Hossam Badran expressing concerns about the complexities and challenges in the upcoming phases of the US-backed plan.