The Israeli army announced today, Wednesday, that Israeli forces have discovered a network of tunnels extending deep into central Gaza beneath properties registered in the names of Yahya Sinwar and other senior Hamas leaders involved in the attack on Israel on October 7. Army spokesman Major Peter Lerner told journalists that the tunnels were found while soldiers were securing an area in central Gaza in recent days.
"We have revealed today the square of Hamas officials in the heart of Gaza City, where the political and military leadership institutions of Hamas are concentrated. This area has provided cover for hundreds of terrorist infrastructures placed within civilian buildings. We have uncovered an extensive network of strategic infrastructure beneath the officials' neighborhood," he stated.
The tunnels can be accessed via spiral staircases and an elevator at a depth of up to 20 meters underground, equipped with electricity, sewage, surveillance cameras, and blast-proof doors, according to images distributed by the army to reporters. Lerner remarked, "These tunnels, both above and below ground, represent a power center for Hamas's military and political wings."
Reuters could not independently verify the information provided. The army stated that senior Hamas leaders, including Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, and Muhammad Deif, used the tunnels to direct operations and maintain a "protected daily movement" in central Gaza. Israel accuses the movement of deliberately placing tunnels and other military infrastructure among civilians and using them as human shields.
Hamas, which rejects this accusation, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Israel's declared objective is to dismantle Hamas and secure the release of more than 130 individuals still held as hostages by the Palestinian Islamist militants.
Israel has not yet succeeded in locating Hamas leaders despite its control over some parts of the Gaza Strip. The extensive Israeli air and ground campaign has resulted in over 50,000 injuries and the destruction of a significant portion of the coastal territory. Hamas has proudly spoken of its network of tunnels, claiming they cover hundreds of kilometers, with some tunnels reaching depths of 80 meters, described by one released hostage as a "spider web."
Informed Western and Middle Eastern sources indicate that the Hamas tunnels beneath the Strip and its borders include tunnels for attack, smuggling, storage, and operations. Earlier this week, Israel stated that it had uncovered a tunnel unusually built with large quantities of concrete and iron, designed to transport fighters' vehicles from Gaza to the border.
