IDF doubts international force can dismantle Hamas tunnels

Israeli military commanders questioned whether international peacekeepers could destroy Hamas tunnel systems that remain after two years of conflict. Senior defense officials told Haaretz that specialized engineering teams, rather than standard stabilization forces, must handle the dangerous work of demolishing hundreds of kilometers of underground passages.

Hamas constructed the network over three decades at an estimated cost of $6 billion. Israel damaged between 25 and 40 percent of the tunnels but substantial portions survive beneath destroyed buildings. Defense Minister Israel Katz called for the complete elimination to be essential to any lasting disarmament agreement.

The militant group rejected weapons surrender demands and reasserted control through street violence after the ceasefire began on Oct. 10. Hamas officials described arms retention as necessary until Palestinian statehood becomes a reality. Military analysts warn that another war could erupt within five years without systematic infrastructure removal.

Israeli forces withdrew from temporary bases while establishing defensive positions that may extend beyond initial ceasefire boundaries. Commanders asked American officials to block civilian returns to perimeter zones and verify that all deceased hostages come back before negotiations advance to subsequent phases.