JERUSALEM: Israel plans to destroy what stays of Hamas’ community of tunnels beneath Gaza, working with US approval after its hostages are freed, it stated on Sunday (Oct 12).
Defence Minister Israel Katz stated the operation can be carried out beneath an “worldwide mechanism” led by the US, sponsor of the three-day-old Gaza ceasefire.
“Israel’s nice problem after the hostage launch part would be the destruction of all Hamas terrorist tunnels in Gaza,” Katz stated in a press release.
“I’ve ordered the military to arrange to hold out this mission.”
The Palestinian militant group Hamas operates a community of tunnels beneath Gaza, permitting its fighters to function out of sight of Israeli reconnaissance.
Some have handed beneath the border fence into Israel, permitting shock assaults.
Many have already been destroyed in the course of the two-year warfare triggered by the group’s Oct 7, 2023 cross-border assault into Israel.
Katz stated the rest can be destroyed beneath the framework of Hamas’ disarming and demilitarisation, foreseen within the subsequent levels of the US-backed ceasefire plan.
