JERUSALEM, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday that the military will continue to strike Hamas and destroy tunnels within the "Yellow Line," a demarcation marking areas where Israeli forces remain deployed in Gaza, "without any limitations."

"Israel's policy in Gaza is clear: the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) is operating to destroy the tunnels and eliminate Hamas terrorists without any limitations within the yellow area under our control," Katz wrote on social media platform X.

He added that Israel's main objective, along with recovering the bodies of seven deceased hostages still held in the enclave, is "to disarm Hamas and demilitarize Gaza."

His remarks came as about 200 Hamas fighters were reportedly trapped in underground tunnels in Rafah, Gaza's southernmost city. An Israeli government official said Monday that Israel had rejected a request by mediators to allow the militants safe passage to an area outside Israeli control.

Under the ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel, the first phase of the truce in Gaza includes partial Israeli troop withdrawals, the exchange of hostages and prisoners, and a significant increase in aid deliveries to the enclave.

Since the ceasefire came into effect on Oct. 10, Hamas has released 20 living Israeli captives and handed over 20 bodies, while Israel has released 250 Palestinian prisoners serving long sentences and 1,718 prisoners arrested in Gaza after Oct. 7, 2023.

While the ceasefire has sharply reduced Israeli attacks, smaller-scale strikes have continued almost daily in Gaza. At least 240 Palestinians have been killed and 607 others wounded by Israeli fire since Oct. 11, according to Gaza's health authorities, bringing the total death toll from Israeli strikes since October 2023 to nearly 70,000. ■