IDF: 800 tunnels discovered in Gaza, 500 destroyed

The IDF spokesperson's office announced today that over 800 tunnel shafts have been located in Gaza since the beginning of ground operations, and 500 of them have been destroyed.

Some of the tunnel shafts connected Hamas' strategic assets via the underground tunnel network. Also, many miles of tunnel routes have been destroyed.

The tunnel shafts were located in civilian areas, many near or inside civilian buildings and structures, such as schools, kindergartens, mosques and playgrounds.

IDF soldiers located large quantities of weapons inside some of the shafts, indicating how Hamas deliberately uses the civilian population and infrastructure as a cover for its terror activities inside the Gaza Strip.

After locating the shafts, IDF troops will carry out thorough investigations to understand the characteristics and uses of the tunnels, and to prepare them for destruction.

A video of IDF soldiers locating and destroying tunnel shafts can be seen here.