This December 17 IDF release shows Israeli ground forces discovering a large underground tunnel in the Gaza Strip. Xinhua News Agency.
Jerusalem, 17 Dec (Xinhua) -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on 17 December that the Israeli army has discovered a large underground tunnel of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) near the Erez crossing on the border with Israel in the northern Gaza Strip, which is the largest tunnel discovered by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip so far.
This December 17 IDF release shows Israeli ground forces discovering a large underground tunnel in the Gaza Strip. Xinhua News Agency.
The tunnel is only 400 meters from the Erez crossing, has a length of more than 4 kilometers and is about 50 meters underground, with some places accommodating large vehicles, the statement said. The tunnel has multiple branches, electrical and sewage facilities, and blast doors. There is currently no evidence that the tunnel extends from the Gaza Strip into Israel.
This December 17 IDF release shows Israeli ground forces discovering a large underground tunnel in the Gaza Strip. Xinhua News Agency.
The statement said that since the outbreak of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on October 7, Israeli forces have discovered hundreds of tunnels of Palestinian armed groups in the Gaza Strip, many of which are made of reinforced concrete and equipped with electricity, ventilation, sewage treatment and communications facilities. The Israeli army is using advanced operational intelligence and technical means to destroy these underground tunnel networks.
This December 17 IDF release shows Israeli ground forces discovering a large underground tunnel in the Gaza Strip. Xinhua News Agency.
It is reported that the Erez crossing, which is managed by the Israeli Ministry of Defense, is the main pedestrian passage between Israel and the Gaza Strip, and is also an important transit point for Palestinians with Israeli work permits to work in Israel. Since the outbreak of the current round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the Erez port has been closed.
This December 17 IDF release shows Israeli ground forces discovering a large underground tunnel in the Gaza Strip. Xinhua News Agency.
*:Xinhua.