The White House has reportedly agreed to the Egyptian plan for Gaza reconstruction, but with a significant condition: Hamas must be removed and fully disarmed. This development comes as the international community continues to seek a lasting solution to the Gaza conflict. According to recent reports, Egypt's plan for Gaza reconstruction involves a comprehensive five-year initiative, projected to cost $53 billion.¹ The plan includes a committee of experts to oversee the clearance of rubble and unexploded ordnance, followed by a four-and-a-half-year reconstruction phase. However, the plan's success hinges on addressing the complex issue of Hamas's future. Israel has expressed concerns about the plan, citing the need for a security-only approach in dealing with Hamas. The US role in the process will be crucial, with some suggesting that a coordinated US-Arab effort could help prepare the ground for peace negotiations between the Palestinian Authority and Israel.
A kilometer-and-a-half-long tunnel was recently demolished by combat engineers in southern Gaza's Khan Younis, the IDF says.
According to the military, inside the tunnel, troops found weapons and other equipment belonging to Hamas operatives, that would have enabled them to remain underground for long periods.
Hamas terror operatives fled the tunnel as troops of the 7th Armored Brigade approached the area, the IDF says. The 603rd Combat Engineering Battalion and elite Yahalom unit later demolished the tunnel
Other Hamas sites, both above and below ground, have been located in the Khan Younis area, the IDF says, including a facility found by the 603rd Battalion with dozens of rockets, launchers, and anti-tank projectiles.