Defense Minister Katz Claims First Effective Action Against Gaza's Tunnel 'Metro' Despite Netanyahu's 2021 Victory Speech

In a recent interview on Channel 14's "The Patriots," Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz asserted that for the first time under his tenure, the threat posed by Gaza's extensive tunnel network, known as the "metro," has been addressed. Katz criticized former IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi's 2021 claim that the metro was destroyed during Operation Guardian of the Walls, calling it a "joke" and stating that less than 3% had been eliminated at that time.

However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously declared in May 2021, shortly after the ceasefire with Hamas, that Israel had destroyed over 100 kilometers of tunnels in the metro complex. Netanyahu described the operation as a significant achievement, stating that Hamas's underground infrastructure was heavily damaged and rendered ineffective, calling it a "death trap" for militants and a feat unmatched by any other military.

Netanyahu emphasized that Hamas had invested heavily in these tunnels to bypass Israel's above-ground defenses, but Israel's efforts had thwarted these plans. Katz, who was Finance Minister during the 2021 operation, highlighted that no previous government had effectively dealt with the tunnel threat before his tenure.

The interview came amid ongoing security concerns, especially following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on communities surrounding Gaza, underscoring the persistent threat posed by underground tunnels despite earlier claims of their destruction.