The Israel Defense Forces this week destroyed a massive tunnel used by Hamas terrorists near Gaza’s border crossing with Egypt.
The 1.5-kilometer-long underground network is located about 100 meters from the Rafah crossing and "splits into several different paths at varying depths," according to IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari.
The demolition has dealt a significant blow to Hamas, Hagari said, as the terrorists were using the tunnel to attack Israeli soldiers operating in Rafah.
Hagari said the Israeli military found "short-range anti-tank missiles, Kalashnikov rifles, explosive devices, and grenades" inside the tunnel, which was also equipped with living quarters and bathrooms.
"For weeks, our forces have been working tirelessly to locate and dismantle terrorist infrastructures in East Rafah," Hagari added. "So far, numerous terrorists have been eliminated, and dozens of terrorist infrastructures belonging to Hamas have been destroyed."
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has in recent weeks brushed off repeated pressure from President Joe Biden, vowing to continue the IDF’s military operations in the southern Gazan city to eliminate the remaining Hamas terrorists.