The Israeli military on Wednesday said it destroyed an infamous Hamas tunnel network that spans hundreds of miles below the Gaza Strip — as air strikes reportedly took out a key weapon maker for the terror organization.
More than 130 tunnel shafts underneath Gaza were blown up by combat engineers who are “destroying the enemy’s weapons and are locating, exposing and detonating tunnel shafts,” the Isreal Defence Forces said in a statement.
Meanwhile, above-ground bombardments killed Hamas weapons maker Mahsein Abu Zina, the Israeli military said.
IDF troops also discovered a structure with multiple car batteries sitting next to several tunnel entrances which they believe was used to power the tunnel’s air filtration systems.
Israeli soldiers also captured a Hamas training camp in northern Gaza, IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari wrote on X.
Within the camp were several tunnel entrances, all of which were destroyed. Troops also discovered a staging group, where Hamas operatives were planning out an attack.
Videos of the tunnels’ demolition were shared online by Hagari. One shot of a tunnel located next to a school run by the UNRWA, the refugee organization that deals specifically with Palestinians, features a dark, black mushroom cloud of smoke rising into the air.
Troops from the IDF’s 551st Brigade demolished the tunnel, which was located in northern Gaza.
The IDF’s mission to eliminate all of Hamas’ tunnels has been met with heavy resistance from Hamas fighters, with Israeli officials saying at least 33 Israeli soldiers have been killed.
Meanwhile, negotiations mediated by Qatar are ongoing as officials work to secure the release of 10 to 15 hostages held captive by Hamas in exchange for a 48-hour humanitarian pause in Gaza.
Qatar, where numerous Hamas leaders are based, has been leading mediation efforts since the terror group launched its surprise incursion on Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,400 people, mainly civilians as well as hundreds of young people attending an outdoor music festival.
Ever since, Israel has heightened its assault on Gaza, where 10,569 people have now been killed, of which 40% were children, according to Palestinian officials.
The Qatar-mediated talks are also being coordinated with the United States, according to an unnamed source who told Reuters the humanitarian pause would allow Hamas to release hostages.
A 24 to 48-hour ceasefire or limitation of the main zone of operations can be expected within the next week in return for a release of hostages, a separate Egyptian security source told Reuters.
US President Joe Biden on Tuesday said he urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pause the fighting for humanitarian reasons, echoing the call of G7 foreign ministers who issued a broader plea for peace on Wednesday.
The G7 nations noted that while Israel has a right to defend itself, there is a massive humanitarian issue at hand. In a joint statement, the ministers said that “a two-state solution… remains the only path to a just, lasting, and secure peace.”
Netanyahu has said Israel would consider “tactical little pauses” but has rejected calls for a ceasefire, claiming such a move would allow Hamas to regroup.
With Post wires