The Israeli military, which is eliminating the Palestinian armed faction Hamas in the Gaza Strip, discovered a very large underground tunnel 4km long near the border checkpoint entering the Gaza Strip.
According to the Israeli daily newspaper Times of Israel on the 17th (local time), the tunnel discovered by the Israeli military is located in Beit Hanun, northern Gaza Strip. This place was 200 to 400 meters away from the Erez (Beit Hanun) border checkpoint in Israel.
The Israeli military explained that Hamas’ underground tunnels have expanded to areas where Gaza residents go about their daily lives, saying, “The Erez checkpoint is where Gaza residents pass through every day to work in Israel or to receive hospital treatment.”
This tunnel has a maximum depth of 50 meters underground and is connected to a circular steel structure inside. The tunnel width is about 3m and the length is 4km, so not only motorcycles but also cars can travel through it. In addition, it was confirmed that it was equipped with communication and power facilities as well as air conditioning and sewage treatment facilities. There was also a hiding place with a blast door in case it was discovered by the Israeli military.
Hamas tunnel construction site revealed by the Israeli military. Provided by Israeli Military Intelligence DepartmentThe Israeli military understands that the tunnel was built under the orders of Muhammad Shinwar, the younger brother of Hamas Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar and commander of Hamas’ Khan Younis region.
The Israeli military also released a video of Hamas engineers building a tunnel.
The video showed Muhammad Sinwar driving a car inside the tunnel. Another video also shows Hamas excavating a tunnel using special equipment such as a boring machine (a machine that rounds and enlarges holes).
The Israeli military explained, “The Hamas digging equipment shown in the video was not visible in the tunnels discovered so far,” and added, “This is the largest Hamas underground tunnel discovered since the ground war in the Gaza Strip began.”
He continued, “Hamas built this tunnel close to the border checkpoint with a large-scale offensive targeting Israel in mind,” and claimed, “It is not an ordinary tunnel, but an underground terrorist city built by Hamas by digging into the ground in the Gaza Strip.”
Hamas tunnel construction site revealed by the Israeli military. Provided by Israeli Military Intelligence DepartmentBased on this evidence, the Israeli military estimated that Hamas had invested millions of dollars in building the tunnel.
The Israeli military plans to blow up and collapse the tunnel in the near future.
Choi Jae-ho,
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.