Israeli Military Discovers Large Tunnel Shaft in Gaza
The Israeli military has announced the discovery of a significant tunnel shaft in Gaza, located near what used to be a busy crossing into Israel. This revelation has raised concerns about how Israeli surveillance failed to detect the conspicuous preparations made by Hamas for their deadly assault on October 7th.
The entrance to the tunnel is just a few hundred meters away from the heavily fortified Erez crossing and a nearby Israeli military base. According to CBS News, this is the largest and longest tunnel found by Israeli forces thus far.
The military has revealed that the tunnel stretches for over 2.5 miles and connects to an extensive network of tunnels across Gaza. It is wide enough to allow vehicles to pass through. The army has stated that this tunnel was used to facilitate the movement of vehicles, militants, and supplies in preparation for the attack on October 7th. Additionally, Israeli forces have reported that the tunnel was used by Hamas militants to transport hostages during the assault.
On that fateful day, militants utilized a rocket-propelled grenade to breach the section of the wall adjacent to the Erez crossing, infiltrating the base and causing the deaths of at least three soldiers. Additionally, a number of individuals were taken hostage and transported back to Gaza, as reported by the army. This incident was one of several occurrences along the border wall where militants successfully penetrated Israel's security defenses, resulting in the loss of approximately 1,200 lives and the abduction of around 240 individuals.
The audacious attack served as a catalyst for an unprecedented war that has persisted for over 10 weeks, claiming over 18,000 lives in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian health officials. Israel has emphasized the destruction of Hamas' intricate tunnel network as a primary objective, highlighting that a significant portion of this underground system is concealed beneath schools, hospitals, and residential areas.
Israel's military, intelligence, and political officials have faced severe criticism for their failure to anticipate the attack.
Maj. Nir Dinar, a military spokesperson, disclosed that Israeli security services were unaware of the existence of the tunnel until October 7th, as Israel's border defenses solely detected tunnels designed for entry into Israel. Dinar stated, "To the best of my knowledge, this tunnel does not extend from Gaza into Israel and terminates within 400 meters of the border. Consequently, the indicators would not suggest the construction of a tunnel." He further explained that the entrance, characterized by a circular cement opening leading to a vast passageway, was concealed beneath a garage, rendering it undetectable by Israeli drones and satellite imagery.
While the military was cognizant of Hamas' extensive tunnel network, Dinar asserted that they did not anticipate the militants' capacity to execute a large-scale attack.
"The Hamas strategy was predictable," stated Dinar. "But what surprised us was their success and the sheer size of this tunnel... it was truly shocking."
The significance of the Erez crossing cannot be understated. It served as a heavily fortified facility, facilitating the movement of Palestinians into Israel for various purposes such as work, medical care, and transit to neighboring Jordan. Protected by security cameras, military patrols, and an adjacent military base, the crossing held great symbolic value for Hamas. However, it suffered extensive damage on October 7 and has remained closed since then.
The army's specialized "Yahalom" unit, trained in tunnel warfare, has been diligently working to excavate the tunnel ever since its initial detection. According to them, weapons have been discovered inside.
"The completion of this flagship project was eagerly awaited," stated Hagari during a press conference. He further revealed that the tunnel was utilized during the war, resulting in the killing of Hamas militants by Israeli soldiers inside.
A high-ranking military official, Dinar, revealed on Friday the discovery of a remarkable tunnel in Gaza. This tunnel stands out due to its impressive dimensions, being twice the height and three times the width of other tunnels found in the area. Dinar stated that the tunnel is equipped with ventilation and electricity, and it reaches depths of up to 50 meters underground in certain sections. The construction and maintenance of such a tunnel would have required significant financial resources, as well as a considerable amount of fuel and workforce.
Hagari, another military official, announced that the military plans to demolish the tunnel and continue their efforts to locate and apprehend militants who may be hiding in other tunnels. He emphasized the determination to pursue these individuals, stating, "We will hunt them even if we need to go down to the tunnels." Hagari also expressed the importance of ensuring the safety of any hostages who may be held captive in the tunnels, stating, "We also need to do it with attention to the rescue of our hostages and the understanding that maybe some of them are in the tunnels." Hagari assured CBS News that the IDF is taking precautions to manage the risk to the hostages, as their primary objective is to bring them back home alive. He described the situation as complex but reiterated the commitment to rescuing the hostages alive.
Israeli Troops Mistakenly Kill Three Hostages in Gaza Strip
Israel's military said Friday it had accidentally killed three Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip when troops "mistakenly identified three Israeli hostages as a threat." According to an IDF official, the hostages were shirtless and were waving a white flag on a stick.
Hagari said once the Israeli military is satisfied the tunnels have been searched for hostages, Israeli forces will blow them up.
