IDF reveals how it found Hamas’ massive tunnel ending right near Gaza border crossing
Israeli army knew about the tunnel and will learn useful lessons from it
After the announcement on Dec. 17 that the IDF had discovered a massive terror tunnel built by Hamas, the Israeli army is now revealing how its soldiers managed to locate and expose it.
The massive attack tunnel originated in Gaza City’s Jabaliya District and ended near the Erez Border Crossing. It runs about four kilometers (2.5 miles) in length, at a depth of up to 50 meters (165 feet) underground, and is wide enough for motorcycles and cars to drive through it.
One side of its tunnel shaft ends about 400 meters (quarter mile) from the Israeli border.
“We knew about the existence of the tunnel and followed its development,” Major S., an officer in the engineering unit of the Gaza Division, explained in an interview published by the IDF.
“We attacked it from the air in the past to disrupt it, and now, the ground operation helped create accessibility that accelerated our ability to reach the tunnel and expose it in the field.”
To find such a massive tunnel far under the ground the army combines precise intelligence with advanced drilling capabilities. “We have many ways,” Major S. hinted.
After the first successful drill near the border, which hit part of the tunnel, Israeli soldiers expanded their achievement by drilling new points deeper inside the Gaza Strip, uncovering at least 4 km of the tunnel’s length.
To investigate the tunnel system by drilling, the area had to first be cleared of terrorists before creating a secure access point so soldiers could enter and examine the tunnel route.
“The operational action of locating a tunnel is not a short one," said Major S. “Mapping, exploration, and destruction is a complex process that requires a lot of time and resources, but we continue to invest in it as a division.”
The tunnel system was one of the largest found inside the Gaza Strip so far, and forms a vast network with several branches and secondary tunnels.
“We know that this is a flagship project of the Sinwar family, led by Muhammad Sinwar [Yahya Sinwar’s brother] that was built for the purpose of a raid into Israeli territory,” Major S. added.
“In the end, we were able to track after it by various means, and we can say that we have already succeeded in disrupting a raid attempt from this tunnel in the past.”
“Thanks to this discovery, we are in possession of a strategic asset of Hamas that teaches us exactly how this thing is structured and conducted, and with its help we can infer things at other places – if we see the same description in another place, we will know how to deal with it.”
According to Major S., this is not the only tunnel of its kind.
“This is just one target which, in the end, we will also destroy. But we will continue to expose and thwart Hamas’ underground route until they cannot use them.”
“The action is never-ending, offensive and rear-facing, the forces work day and night and carry out the mission to the best of their abilities,” Major S. stated.
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The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
