Israel Plans Gaza Tunnel Demolition as Part of Ceasefire Agreement

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has directed military forces to prepare for the demolition of underground tunnels in the Gaza Strip that Israel attributes to Hamas. The announcement comes as the ceasefire agreement enters its implementation phase, with tunnel destruction positioned as a central component of the Gaza demilitarization process.

In a statement released Sunday on the social media platform X, Katz identified tunnel demolition as "the major challenge for Israel after the phase of returning the hostages." The defense minister outlined that the operation would be conducted through combined efforts involving direct action by the Israeli Defense Forces and an international mechanism established under United States leadership and supervision.

The tunnel demolition plan forms part of the broader ceasefire agreement that US President Donald Trump announced last Wednesday. The first phase of this agreement took effect Friday noon, initiating a 72-hour window for hostage-prisoner exchanges and the withdrawal of Israeli forces to designated lines. Katz emphasized that destroying the tunnel network represents "the primary meaning" of implementing the agreed principles for Gaza's demilitarization and Hamas's disarmament.

The second phase of the ceasefire agreement envisions establishing a new governing mechanism in Gaza without Hamas participation. This includes forming a security force comprising Palestinian personnel alongside troops from Arab and Islamic countries, alongside the complete disarmament of Hamas. The conflict, which began in October 2023, has resulted in extensive casualties according to Palestinian authorities, with over 67,600 deaths reported.