Hamas Next Big Threat
Next Step: Why Israel Katz Says This One Order is the True Meaning of Ending the War?
Defense Minister Israel Katz orders IDF to prepare for complete destruction of Hamas tunnel network in Gaza Strip, marking a crucial step in post-conflict strategy and demilitarization.
Defense Minister Israel Katz announced today that he has instructed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to prepare for a massive operation aimed at the complete destruction of Hamas’s extensive tunnel network throughout the Gaza Strip. The directive links the operation directly to the strategic "day after" plan for the enclave's governance and security.
The Minister detailed the mission on social media, emphasizing that the elimination of the subterranean infrastructure is the non-negotiable definition of Gaza’s future demilitarization.
The Core Challenge: Disarming Hamas
Minister Katz stated that the tunnel demolition will be the "major challenge for Israel after the phase of returning the hostages," framing it as the central pillar of the post-conflict strategy.
"This is the primary meaning of implementing the agreed principle of demilitarizing Gaza and disarming Hamas," Katz wrote on X, confirming he has "instructed the IDF to prepare to carry out the mission."
The plan envisions the tunnel destruction proceeding through a two-pronged approach:
This focus aligns with the recent high-level discussions between Israeli and US officials, including CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper and Witkoff Kushner, which centered on securing the demilitarization of the territory as the core condition for a lasting cessation of fighting.
Critical Implementation Questions
While the political directive is clear, the implementation faces significant logistical and operational obstacles, particularly in light of the recently ratified ceasefire and hostage deal.
The central ambiguity remains how the IDF will demolish Hamas's tunnels in areas outside of the army's control, the 47 percent of the Strip that Israeli forces are currently withdrawing from as part of the initial phase of the agreement.
The feasibility of conducting large-scale demolition, either by the IDF or an international body, within territories controlled or monitored by Hamas without reigniting hostilities presents a critical challenge to the success of the long-term demilitarization goal. Failure to achieve the complete destruction of the tunnels, regardless of the agreement's status, would allow Hamas to retain the core terror military capability necessary to rearm and continue the conflict, undermining the entire premise of the "day after" arrangement.