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Israeli Defense Minister: Top ‘strategic objective’ in Gaza now is destroying Hamas tunnels, of which 60% are intact

26 October 2025 00:49 (UTC +04:00)

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz says the “most important strategic objective” now in Gaza is the demilitarization of the Strip by destroying Hamas’s tunnels, 60% of which are still intact, APA reports citing Times of Israel.

“The demilitarization of Gaza by destroying Hamas’s terror tunnels, alongside disarming Hamas, is, in my view, the most important strategic objective for achieving victory in Gaza,” Katz says in a statement.

He says that “the most urgent moral mission is, of course, the return of all fallen hostages home, and we will do everything to carry out this sacred and important mission.”

“The overarching strategic mission to realize the great victory achieved by the heroic IDF soldiers against Hamas terrorists in Gaza is the demilitarization of Gaza through the complete destruction of the terror tunnels, 60% of which still exist, alongside the dismantling of Hamas’s weapons,” Katz says.