GAZA CITY (TND) — Following an announcement from Israel’s military, it was revealed on Friday that an extensive network of tunnels used by Hamas terrorists had been completely eliminated.
“The [Israeli Defense Force](IDF) has completed its operational preparations according to the defensive positions of the pause,” the IDF stated via X. “Earlier this morning, our troops destroyed a route of underground terrorist tunnels and tunnel shafts in the area of the Shifa Hospital.”
A video of the tunnel destruction from the air shows a wide swath of land go up in smoke after an explosion rips through buildings. The IDF said its forces also attacked Hamas targets throughout the region in advance of the pause in fighting, which began early Friday morning.
“In addition, over the last day, our troops struck various terrorist targets from the land, air and sea,” the IDF said.
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Photos from the tunnels shared by spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari show long narrow corridors equipped with large metal blast doors with shooting holes.
The truth is clear,” Hagari stated. “Hamas uses hospitals for terror.”
An IDF soldier described the danger the tunnels represented in a video on X.
“This is a risk to the lives of the people of Gaza and this puts everyone around it in an impossible situation,” she said. “The understanding that this tunnel goes under the hospital, knowing that before you were there, the forces assisted with the delivery of medical equipment.”
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The IDF says it discovered the tunnels beneath the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City earlier this week. Nearby Rantisi Hospital was also found earlier this month to hold a terrorist “command center” in its basement, which the Israeli military cites as evidence Hamas uses civilians as human shields.
