The IDF released for publication on Sunday a Hamas video seized during Israeli military operations that documents the construction of the terror organization’s largest Gaza tunnel uncovered so far.
Take a look at the Hamas video showing the effort needed to build this tunnel.
The tunnel was secured by IDF forces a few weeks ago, as part of the IDF’s defensive efforts to restore security to the area, the IDF said. “There is no evidence that the tunnel extends into Israel from the Gaza Strip.”
Over the past few weeks, IDF ground forces and combat engineering forces from the Gaza Division, including soldiers from the Yahalom Unit have been conducting an extensive operation against Hamas’ terror tunnels. The unit leverages advanced technological capabilities to expose, assess, secure and dismantle Hamas terrorist tunnels.
A Quarter Mile from Erez Crossing
The tunnel, part of the “Gaza Metro” network beneath the surface of the enclave, was discovered just 400 meters (a quarter mile) from to the Erez border crossing, in the northern area of the Gaza Strip. It stretches about four kilometers long (2.5 miles) and about 50 meters (164 feet) deep. In fact, it is so big that it can accommodate the movement of vehicles. The tunnel shaft at other end of this tunnel is located near Gaza City.
The Erez Crossing was where humanitarian aid workers, diplomats and Gazans with Israeli work permits used to travel in and out of the enclave from Israel. It is now closed indefinitely.
Here’s a quick look at the Erez Crossing prior to and following the October 7 attack, courtesy of the Israel Ministry of Defense Crossing Authority.
The Gaza Metro subterranean tunnel system was a project led by Muhammad Sinwar, the brother of Gaza Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
October 7 Changed Everything, Including Gazans’ Lives
It was while collecting field intelligence material on the tunnel that IDF forces found the videos taken by Hamas documenting its construction.
In 2022, over 800,000 Gazans crossed via Erez Crossing; in the first half of 2023, 550,000 did, putting the crossing on track to facilitate over one million crossings this year.
The crossing also supported passage of some 18,500 Gazan workers with Israeli work permits, where the average salary is six times higher than in Gaza. These workers made a significant contribution to the prosperity and growth of the Gazan economy.
Furthermore, more than 7,000 Gazans entered Israel via Erez to receive medical treatment in 2022 and another 5,000 received permits in the first half of 2023.
But all that changed on October 7th, when the crossing dedicated to the movement of people between Gaza and Israel was attacked by Hamas.
During Hamas’ invasion of southern Israel, terrorists rampaged the crossing and killed and abducted IDF soldiers who were on duty there. On Friday (Dec. 15), the bodies of two IDF soldiers – CPL Nik Beizer and SGT Ron Sherman – who had been abducted from the Coordination and Liaison Administration (CLA) on October 7th, were recovered and returned to Israel in an IDF operation in the heart of Gaza.
Gaza Metro: Labyrinth Beneath the Enclave
The tunnel itself has several branches and split offs which form a wide and branched network of tunnels. Along the route are sewage, electricity, communication and telephone infrastructures, as well as overhead doors that were designed to prevent the entry of IDF forces. The tunnel is large enough to allow the movement of vehicles and many Hamas weapons were found inside as well.
The complex tunnel network was constructed by a team of dozens of specifically trained operatives from southern Gaza. The team leveraged dedicated digging equipment that was smuggled into Gaza to excavate the tunnel. The tunnel reaches as deep as 50 meters underground, is over four kilometers long, and is at points wide enough for a large vehicle to drive through.
Like other tunnels throughout Gaza, the tunnel network has multiple branches, electricity and sewage facilities installed, and blast doors to block access. The tunnel displays other construction characteristics, such as extensive concrete arches and multiple access shafts.
According to estimates, Hamas invested millions of dollars in the subterranean Gaza Metro project throughout the enclave.
“To date, the IDF has exposed hundreds of terror tunnel shafts throughout the Gaza Strip,” the IDF said. “Over the past 70 days, the IDF has exposed multiple examples where these tunnels were built under hospitals, schools, kindergartens and other sensitive sites. The IDF continues to use advanced operational, intelligence and technological means to eliminate Hamas’ network of terror tunnels across the Gaza Strip … as part of the systematic dismantling of Hamas infrastructure.
“Hamas persistently and deliberately invested enormous amounts of money and resources into terrorist tunnels that serve only one purpose – attacking the State of Israel and its residents,” the IDF noted.
“This strategic attack tunnel network, large enough to drive vehicles through, was spearheaded by Muhammad Sinwar and intentionally dug near a crossing dedicated to the movement of Gazans into Israel for work and medical care,” Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, the IDF International Spokesperson said. “For Hamas, attacking the people of Israel continues to take priority over supporting the people of Gaza.”
Just a few days ago, Hamas fighters emerged from the tunnel to attack Israeli forces during combat in the area. Those terrorists were eliminated, as were other terrorists who were spotted inside the tunnel itself.
Watch: IDF Soldiers Kill Terrorists in Major Hamas Tunnel
This past Thursday evening (Dec. 14), the IDF and Shin Bet revealed special footage from an operation in which IDF soldiers killed terrorists underground in a major Hamas tunnel in northern Gaza.
The tunnel was exposed by the Northern Brigade of the Gaza Division in cooperation with the Shin Bet.
The terrorists inside the tunnel were identified and killed by soldiers of the Combat Engineering Yahalom Unit “using a variety of means,” the IDF said in the announcement.
