A tunnel large enough for cars to pass through, reinforced with concrete, equipped with pipe systems, electricity, ventilation, sewers, communications and even rails. And above all, dug up to 400 meters from the Erez crossing point, on the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip. This is the extent of the discovery by the Israeli army, which announced on Sunday December 18 that it had spotted the “largest tunnel” known to date dug by Hamas under Gaza.
According to Israel, this branch of Hamas’s sprawling underground network would extend over 4 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. Israeli intelligence says it had access to videos of the latter driving through these tunnels.
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 at West Point, this underground portion would also have been a place to live for Hamas fighters, and not a simple transit space, as evidenced by access to electricity, pipes or ventilation. And a place of preparation for combat: the Israeli army says it has discovered a large stock of weapons there.
Three Israeli soldiers killed
This tunnel would have been key in the bloody attack carried out on 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 Dinar, Israeli army spokesperson quoted by the 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.
“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.