Israel has announced plans to destroy all remaining underground tunnels in the Gaza Strip used by the Palestinian militant group Hamas during the conflict.
The decision was made public by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz via a social media post.
“The major challenge for Israel after the hostages’ return phase will be the destruction of all Hamas terrorist tunnels in Gaza,” Katz said, adding that the operation will be conducted directly by the Israeli military under U.S. supervision.
During the two-year conflict in Gaza, the Israeli army has repeatedly reported the destruction of Hamas tunnels, but the extent and functionality of the remaining underground network remain unclear.
Before the Israeli offensive, officials stated that the tunnels stretched for several hundred kilometers, including beneath urban areas. Some tunnels allowed access beyond the border fence into Israel, enabling surprise attacks.
