IDF exposes vast Hamas terror tunnel used to hold Israeli hostages under Khan Younis

Israel continues hunt for Hamas leaders and clues to hostages' whereabouts

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Israel Defense Forces revealed a large tunnel that was being used to hold Israeli hostages captive under the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Daniel Hagari announced on Wednesday evening.

The IDF published video footage of the tunnel, which was equipped with air ventilation systems, electrical supply, and plumbing and is estimated to have cost millions of shekels to build.

After a thorough investigation, Hagari confirmed that Israeli hostages had been held inside the tunnel “in difficult conditions” before they were moved, probably due to the advance of the Israeli army.

“136 abductees are still being held in the Gaza Strip, including dozens of sick and wounded without medical care, elderly people over 80 years old, children and women,” Hagari told the press. “We are afraid for their physical and mental well-being.”

The tunnel was connected to the vast underground network below the town of Khan Younis, which was discovered by 89th Commando Brigade troops, the Yahalom combat engineering commando unit, and other special forces.

Several journalists were escorted by the IDF into Gaza to see the tunnel for themselves.

“A makeshift ladder led to the narrow underground pathway, about 2.5 meters (8 feet) below,” according to the Times of Israel. “The tunnel was hot and humid, with walls lined with concrete and electrical wires. Farther inside was a bathroom, where the military said it found evidence that hostages had been there, including their DNA.”

Khan Younis is currently the main battlefield in the Strip and Israel suspects that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who hails from the town, continues to hide underground there.

Soldiers in the 98th Paratrooper Division have uncovered more than 300 shafts in the area, many of them leading to significant tunnels, combat posts and weapons caches.

The troops encountered and eliminated terrorists in some of the tunnels and have so far demolished some 100 of them.

Recent reports in Israeli media suggest that Israel knows the hiding place of Sinwar but may be holding off from launching an attack because they believe he has surrounded himself with many of the remaining Israeli hostages, using them as human shields.

The IDF has already found and destroyed one of Sinwar’s 'hideouts' – an apartment in the northern Gaza strip that connected to a large tunnel system below it.