Israeli army shows reporters tunnel in southern Gaza

The escorted tour on September 13 was a rare glimpse of the southern Gaza city of Rafah and the Philadelphi corridor, a narrow strip of land bordering Egypt that was seized by Israeli forces in May.

The corridor itself is a bleak place. A new paved road runs along the border fence, replacing the route that was destroyed. It passes through large swaths of earth dug up by Israeli bulldozers and a few piles of rubble.

Israeli soldiers walk next to destroyed buildings following Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip on September 13. Photo: AP

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said some of the tunnels found in the border corridor had been used by Hamas to smuggle weapons. Egypt said it sealed all the tunnels on its side years ago.

A view of the tunnel used by Hamas militants in the southern Gaza Strip, about 100 metres from the Philadelphia corridor. Photo: AP

Israeli soldiers next to the tunnel entrance. Photo: AP

An Israeli soldier walks through a tunnel. Photo: AP

The Tel el-Sultan district near Rafah is a scene of devastation, months after Israel's assault on the city. Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said the army was still battling Hamas militants operating in a "maze of tunnels" beneath the district. He showed journalists the entrance to a tunnel where Hamas militants killed six Israeli hostages two weeks before the army closed in.

Israeli soldiers light candles at the entrance to the tunnel where six Israeli hostages were recently killed by Hamas militants. Photo: AP

The army said they accidentally discovered the tunnel inside a house when a bulldozer almost fell into the entrance. The next day, they discovered the bodies of six people inside.

Israeli soldiers stand at the entrance to the tunnel where six Israeli hostages were recently killed by Hamas militants. Photo: AP

Israeli soldiers stand at the entrance to the tunnel where the bodies of six Israeli hostages were found. Photo: AP

Journalists on the trip were unable to visit other parts of the city. Israel has banned international journalists from entering Gaza independently since the Hamas offensive on October 7, although it has previously taken reporters on a small tour of other parts of Gaza.

Hoai Phuong (according to AP)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/quan-doi-israel-cho-phong-vien-xem-duong-ham-o-phia-nam-gaza-post312361.html