The IDF on Sunday unveiled the largest terror tunnel ever found in the Gaza Strip, built under the personal guidance of Muhammad Sinwar, Yahya's brother. This is a tunnel about 3.5 meters wide, which vehicles can easily travel, and its depth reaches no less than 50 meters underground, very close to the groundwater.
Last Friday we went deep into the tunnel with IDF forces. The entrance to the tunnel is only about 400 meters from the Erez crossing, which was used by Gaza Strip residents for humanitarian purposes, including the passage of workers, merchants and patients into Israeli territory. So far, the IDF has exposed more than 4 kilometers of the tunnel, which reaches below the Jabaliya refugee camp and branches off in all sorts of directions.
Illustrative documentation: The enormous scope of the largest terror tunnel exposed // IDF Spokesperson
Lilach Shoval, Israel Hayom correspondent, in the largest tunnel found in Gaza, photo: None
The tunnel opening is very wide, and the descent down is steep and slippery. The army claimed that the descent down was safe after the rest of the tunnel had been dealt with by the forces, but nevertheless, soldiers marched in front of us with their weapons drawn and flashlights to respond in case a terrorist did emerge from the branched tunnel.
Sewage, electricity and telephony
We descend a very steep descent to a depth of about 25 meters deep in the ground, and walk very comfortably. Moreover, the forces do not allow us to advance. At the entrance, deep shafts that reach deep into the ground and are covered with a net that will prevent falling in. The tunnel itself is built of a wide, concrete arch, along which long communication cables extend. The route includes sewage infrastructure, electrical wires, communications and telephones, as well as blast doors designed to prevent the entry of IDF forces.
Galant on tour of the largest tunnel found by the IDF in Gaza, photo: Ariel Hermony, Ministry of Defense
Galant on tour of the largest tunnel found by the IDF in Gaza,
The army refers to the tunnel as "Route 6" of the tunnels, and it is believed that the terrorists planned to use the tunnel for a large attack by terrorists on vehicles, jeeps and motorcycles. Quite a bit of intelligence material was found deep in the tunnel and its branches, as well as weapons, including RPG missiles.
Documentation: Defense Minister Galant, Gaza Division Commander and Yahalam Commander in the Giant Tunnel // Shahar Yurman
As far as the IDF knows, on October 7 the terrorists did not use the tunnel to infiltrate Israel. The truth is that there was no need – the terrorists simply entered on foot and broke through the perimeter fence surrounding the Gaza Strip. But Israel does not rule out the possibility that at the beginning of the fighting, the terrorists used this tunnel, and its many branches, as a combat zone to move forces, weapons and terrorists from place to place.
Although the IDF knew there was a tunnel in the Erez crossing area, after the ground entry into the Gaza Strip, it took the forces quite a while to find it, and later to investigate it. Fighters of the Yahalam unit, infantry forces, special units and engineering forces of the Gaza Division used advanced intelligence and technological means to expose the tunnel route, search it and exonerate it. The army notes that this is a "strategic tunneling" route, even though it did not cross into Israeli territory.
Documentation: IDF forces expose the route of the giant tunnel and investigate it // IDF Spokesperson
It is estimated in Israel that there are double-digit numbers of additional tunnels that approached the Israeli perimeter fence but did not cross it. However, such a broad and strategic tunnel, intended for vehicles, has not yet been found on the Gaza border.
According to IDF assessments, the project to build the tunnel included a team of dozens of terrorists who came especially to build it from Khan Yunis to the northern Gaza Strip. The intelligence materials even found a picture of Muhammad Sinwar inside a vehicle driving through this tunnel. According to the IDF, the construction of the tunnel used materials not previously seen in Hamas tactical tunnels, as well as special digging machines smuggled into the Gaza Strip.
Source of offensive actions
It is estimated that Hamas invested millions of dollars in the underground layout throughout the Gaza Strip. During the fighting, offensive operations were launched from this tunnel against the forces, most recently a few days ago, when terrorists were identified in the tunnel who were eliminated by IDF forces.
Documentation: Northern Brigade Commander Col. Haim Cohen addresses the exposure of the huge tunnel // IDF Spokesperson
The engineering officer of the Gaza division, Lt. Col. Y., said deep in the tunnel: "Hamas concentrated an infrastructural effort. When we build a train in Tel Aviv for the benefit of the residents, Hamas concentrates its resourceful, technological and best minds efforts on terrorist infrastructure. If we want to advance a population, they want to promote raid and murder squads."
"They used civilian infrastructure to hide the material coming out of the tunnel," he said. Huge amounts of material coming out and a lot of infrastructure materials coming out of here. This is a cynical use of the residents of the Gaza Strip, they use their infrastructure and homes, and instead of building schools, they invest the concrete in such infrastructure. There is no better than October 7 to understand what they mean."
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