Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz on Friday declared that the destruction of Hamas’s tunnel network — roughly 60 percent of which he said remains intact — is now the country’s “most important strategic objective” in Gaza, signaling a shift in Israel’s post-ceasefire military focus toward long-term demilitarization of the Strip.

“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 said in a statement. “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.”

Katz praised what he called the “great victory” of Israeli forces over Hamas but warned that success would remain incomplete without the total elimination of the underground infrastructure that allowed the terrorist group to operate for nearly two decades.

Military officials have said Israel’s operations throughout the war prioritized destroying Hamas’s attack tunnels — those used for infiltrations, command centers, and weapons manufacturing — while many smaller tunnels used for movement across Gaza remain intact, particularly in zones where ground troops did not deploy.

Katz said he has instructed the IDF “to make the destruction of the tunnels the central task now” in the areas under Israeli control.

He added that Israel is working closely with the United States on coordinating the next phase of the effort. Katz said ongoing discussions with senior U.S. officials — including Vice President JD Vance, Secretaries Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and JD McFarland, and U.S. Central Command officers — center on ensuring the full implementation of President Donald Trump’s demilitarization plan for Gaza.

“The dialogue with our American partners is critical,” Katz said. “They understand that the destruction of all remaining terror tunnels and the disarmament of Hamas are essential to securing Gaza’s future stability.”

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