Israeli soldiers fighting Hamas announced the discovery of an exceptionally huge concrete and iron-girded tunnel meant to transport carloads of terrorist gunmen from Gaza all the way to the border. Among the goals of Israel’s attack begun after Hamas terrorists went on a killing and abduction rampage in its southern cities and army posts on Oct. 7 is to destroy or disable hundreds of km of subterranean routes and bunkers, news agency Reuters reported.
EXPOSED: The biggest Hamas terrorist tunnel discovered.
This massive tunnel system branches out and spans well over four kilometers (2.5 miles). Its entrance is located only 400 meters (1,310 feet) from the Erez Crossing—used by Gazans on a daily basis to enter Israel for work… pic.twitter.com/RcjK5LbvGL
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) December 17, 2023
The Erez border crossing between Gaza and Israel was among the places overrun by Hamas in that onslaught. The military showed reporters the egress point of what it claimed was a landmark Hamas project just 100 metres (yards) south of the checkpoint, hidden under a sand dune.
The tunnel extended diagonally down to a depth of 50 metres, where it expanded to a reasonably roomy 3 metres (10 feet) in height and breadth, complete with electrical fittings.
The complete length of the tunnel, according to Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, is 4 km (2.5 miles), enough to reach northern Gaza City, once the hub of Hamas authority and now a destroyed fighting zone.
It was “the biggest tunnel we found in Gaza… meant to target the (Erez) crossing,” Hagari claimed, without elaborating on whether Hamas utilised it in the Oct. 7 attack.
“Millions of dollars were invested in this tunnel. It took years to build this tunnel. Vehicles could drive through,” Hagari added.
Tunnels displayed to the media by the organisation or the Israeli military following their discovery have often been tiny and low, suited for single-file passage of militants on foot. Hagari’s tunnel had shafts falling vertically downhill, suggesting it was part of a larger network, he claimed.
The tunnels have been difficult for Israeli engineers, who are concerned that the networks may be used to conceal Hamas hostages. This has halted an onslaught whose high civilian toll in Palestine has concerned foreign powers.
Hagari showed reporters a video of Mohammed Sinwar, the brother of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and a top agent in the group, seated in the passenger seat of a car he claimed was travelling through the tunnel.
According to the Israeli news site Ynet, forces killed several militants who stormed Erez after entering the region through a tunnel on October 29. The office of Hagari did not react to a question about whether that pertained to the tunnel he displayed.