2023-12-18 17:12:18
A tunnel large enough for cars to pass through, reinforced with concrete, equipped with a system of pipes, electricity, ventilation, sewers, communications, and even rails. And above all, dug up to 400 meters from the border between Israel and Gaza and the Erez crossing point. This is the extent of the discovery by the Israeli army, which announced this Sunday that it had spotted Hamas’ “largest tunnel” under the Gaza Strip.
According to Israel, this new branch of Hamas’s sprawling underground network would extend over four kilometers in length, would be buried up to more than 50 meters deep on certain portions, and would itself divide into several branches. Its construction would have been supervised by Mohammed Sinwar himself, the brother of Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas, of whom Israeli intelligence says it had access to videos of him driving through these tunnels.
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Like the rest of the Hamas tunnel network, which would extend over more than 500 kilometers according to estimates by the Institute of Modern Warfare at the American Military Academy West Point, this place would also have been a place of life for Hamas fighters, and not just a simple transit tool, as evidenced by access to electricity, pipes or ventilation. A place of preparation for combat, too: the Israeli army also says it has discovered a large stock of weapons in these tunnels.
Three Israeli soldiers killed
This tunnel would above all have been key in the bloody attack of October 7 by Hamas. Already, by allowing the transport of vehicles, fighters or even equipment out of sight of the Israeli army. But on the day of the attack, Hamas fighters, using a rocket launcher, blew up the 400 meters separating the tunnel from the Israeli base of Erez, reports the American agency Associated Press. Three Israeli soldiers were then killed there and several others kidnapped and taken to Gaza.
Enough to raise the question of Israeli intelligence and the preparation of the Jewish state in the face of the lightning attack by Hamas. Nir Dirar, Israeli army spokesperson quoted par l’Associated Press, confirmed that the IDF was not aware of this tunnel before the October 7 attack. But justified it by the fact that Israeli border defenses could only detect tunnels intended to enter Israel. The entrance to this tunnel, located under a garage, was also hidden from Israeli drones and satellite images.
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“Millions of dollars were invested in this tunnel. It took years to build (it),” Daniel Hagari, spokesperson for the Israeli army, told the press on Sunday. “Our troops also discovered at least two other city-sized tunnels of similar scope, which they continue to map.” he added. The battle of the “Gaza metro”, as this underground network is sometimes nicknamed, is far from having delivered all its surprises.
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