The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Sunday that they have uncovered the “biggest Hamas tunnel in Gaza , measuring four kilometers (2.5 miles) in length. The tunnel, secured a few weeks ago but disclosed to the public recently, is wide enough to accommodate a large vehicle, extends up to 50 meters underground, and is equipped with electricity, ventilation, and communication systems.
Notably, the tunnel does not cross into Israel but terminates 400 meters before the now-closed Erez Crossing on the northern Israeli-Gazan border, which was breached during the October 7 attacks. The IDF claims the tunnel was part of Hamas’ strategic infrastructure, designed for troop movements and as a launching point for attacks. A video shared by the IDF purportedly shows a large vehicle entering the tunnel and a makeshift railroad inside, although the authenticity has not been independently verified.
The IDF stated that the tunnel would be destroyed and alleged that it was a project led by Muhammad Sinwar, the brother of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. However, the IDF did not provide any evidence to support this claim. Hamas tunnel in Gaza
The IDF claims to have exposed “hundreds of terror tunnel shafts throughout the Gaza Strip” and says it is operating “to locate and destroy dozens of attack tunnel routes.”
Hamas asserts that it has constructed approximately 500 kilometers (311 miles) of tunnels beneath Gaza. However, the accuracy of this claim remains uncertain.
These tunnels serve various purposes, including smuggling goods from Egypt, launching attacks into Israel, storing rockets and ammunition caches, and housing Hamas command and control centers. Individuals who were taken hostage during the October 7 attacks have reported being forced to march for hours, some of them describing being taken to these tunnels..
Last month, the Israeli military uncovered a tunnel shaft on the grounds of the Al-Shifa hospital complex, the enclave’s largest medical facility. Its discovery has been central to the IDF’s argument that there may be a network of tunnels below the hospital.
Last month, Israeli forces raided Gaza’s largest hospital, alleging that Hamas was operating a command center beneath it. In contrast, Hamas and hospital officials assert that the facility has solely been used for the treatment of patients.