IDF confirms discovery of largest Hamas tunnel in Gaza

The IDF said it had taken control of the tunnel “a few weeks ago” but only revealed it on Sunday, saying it was large enough to accommodate several large vehicles, was up to 50 meters underground and was equipped with electrical, ventilation and communications systems.

The tunnel does not lead to Israel but ends about 400m from the Erez crossing on the northern Gaza-Israel border, which is now closed. The Erez crossing was destroyed by Hamas in an offensive on 7 October.

The IDF said the tunnels were part of Hamas’ “strategic infrastructure” and would be destroyed. In a video shared by the IDF, the Israeli military said the tunnels were deployed to aid Hamas’ movement and serve as a springboard for attacks.

Footage shared by the IDF, which it claims was filmed by Hamas to show the tunnel's construction, shows a large vehicle moving into the tunnel and a homemade railway inside. CNN has not been able to verify the footage or the IDF's claim.

In a statement released on Sunday, the IDF claimed that the tunnel was a project proposed by Muhammad Sinwar, the brother of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. The IDF provided no evidence to support this claim.

The IDF confirmed that it had discovered “hundreds of tunnel entrances across the Gaza Strip” and said its troops were working “to uncover and destroy dozens of attack tunnels.”

Photo: Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Giant Maze

Hamas has claimed to have built a network of tunnels totaling 500km under Gaza, but the exact number remains unclear.

The tunnels under Gaza are used to smuggle goods from Egypt, launch attacks on Israel, store missiles and ammunition, and house Hamas command and control headquarters.

Several people taken hostage in the October 7 attack described being taken to these tunnels.

Last month, the Israeli military discovered a tunnel entrance in the compound of Al Shifa Hospital, the largest medical facility in the Gaza Strip. The discovery provided the backbone of the IDF’s assertion that a network of tunnels may exist beneath the hospital.

The hospital was raided by Israeli forces last month after the military accused Hamas of setting up a command center underneath the facility. Hamas and hospital officials have insisted the facility is only used to treat patients.

In addition, on Tuesday, a US official told CNN that Israel had begun flooding some tunnels in Gaza with seawater in an attempt to destroy the tunnel network, and said they were "carefully testing" this method "on a limited scale."

If effective, this flooding method could be scaled up to destroy tunnel networks on a larger scale.

Nguyen Quang Minh (according to CNN)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/idf-khang-dinh-phat-hien-tuyen-duong-ham-lon-nhat-cua-hamas-tai-gaza-a641191.html