Following the release of its hostages, Israel announced Sunday it would work with the United States to dismantle what remains of Hamas’s network of tunnels beneath Gaza.
The United States, the sponsor of the three-day-old ceasefire in Gaza, will lead the “international mechanism” that would carry out the operation, according to Defense Minister Israel Katz.
“Israel’s great challenge after the hostage release phase will be the destruction of all Hamas terrorist tunnels in Gaza,” Katz said in a statement.
“I have ordered the army to prepare to carry out this mission.”
Under Gaza, the Palestinian militant organization Hamas has a system of tunnels that keep its fighters hidden from Israeli reconnaissance.
Some have entered Israel through the border fence, opening the door for unexpected strikes.
The two-year conflict, which began when the organization launched a cross-border attack into Israel on October 7, 2023, has already seen the destruction of many.
Katz said the remainder would be destroyed under the framework of Hamas’s disarming and demilitarisation, foreseen in the next stages of the US-backed ceasefire plan.
Hamas has agreed to the first stage of the plan, which led to a ceasefire on Friday and on Monday should see the release of 48 Israeli hostages, living and dead.
In exchange, Israel is expected to release 250 “national security prisoners”, including several blamed for deadly attacks, and 1,700 Gazans detained by the military.
But Hamas has resisted calls to disarm, and on Sunday senior official Hossam Badran told AFP the second phase of the US plan “contains many complexities and difficulties”.
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