Israel has announced plans to dismantle the remaining network of Hamas tunnels located beneath Gaza, with operations set to commence after the release of hostages. This initiative, which has garnered approval from the United States, forms part of a broader strategy following a recent ceasefire.
Defense Minister Israel Katz stressed the significance of this mission, describing the destruction of the tunnel network as a major post-hostage release challenge. He confirmed that the Israeli military has been ordered to prepare for this critical operation.
Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, has long utilized an intricate network of tunnels to effectively evade Israeli surveillance and conduct combat operations. Some of these tunnels extend beneath the border into Israeli territory, facilitating unexpected assaults. While many tunnels were obliterated during the ongoing conflict, sparked by a devastating cross-border attack from Hamas on October 7, 2023, the remaining tunnels pose a continuing threat.
Katz indicated that the operation to eliminate these tunnels will be part of a comprehensive disarmament and demilitarization plan for Hamas, which is integral to the U.S.-brokered ceasefire framework. The first phase of this plan has already seen Hamas agreeing to the release of hostages, which is scheduled to include the return of 48 Israeli individuals, both living and deceased, by Monday.
In return, Israel is anticipated to release a significant number of detainees, comprising 250 individuals classified as “national security prisoners,” including several held accountable for lethal attacks, along with 1,700 Gazan detainees captured by Israeli forces.
However, dissent arises from within Hamas regarding these disarmament demands. Senior official Hossam Badran expressed reservations, labeling the second phase of the U.S. plan as fraught with “many complexities and difficulties,” indicating that negotiations may prove challenging in the near future.
