GAZA — Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said Saturday he has instructed the army to continue demolitions in the parts of the Gaza Strip still under Israeli control, as outlined in the ongoing ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement.
“I have instructed the IDF to prioritize the destruction of the tunnels as the central task in the yellow zone currently under our control, alongside protecting the soldiers and communities,” Katz wrote on the US social media platform X.
He said the ongoing operations are being carried out in parallel with discussions involving top US officials to ensure the full implementation of US President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan and the “dismantling and destruction of all terror tunnels in the remaining territory under their responsibility, alongside disarming Hamas.”
“Demilitarizing Gaza through the destruction of Hamas's terror tunnels, alongside disarming Hamas, is, in my view, the most important strategic objective for achieving victory in Gaza,” Katz said.
He described the return of all hostages and the bodies of fallen soldiers as the “most urgent moral mission,” adding: “We will do everything to fulfill this sacred and critical mission.”
Katz reiterated that the overarching goal of Israel’s military operations remains the full demilitarization of Gaza.
“The great victory achieved by the heroic IDF fighters against Hamas terrorists in Gaza must be realized through the complete destruction of the terror tunnels, 60% of which still remain — alongside disarming Hamas,” he said.
The phased Gaza ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, brokered through regional and international mediation, took effect on Oct. 10.
Phase one includes the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a partial Israeli withdrawal, as well as plans to rebuild Gaza and establish a new governing mechanism without Hamas.
Since October 2023, the Israeli war on Gaza has killed more than 68,500 Palestinians and injured over 170,300 others, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. — Agencies
