The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Tuesday that they have successfully destroyed the largest terror tunnel found in northern Gaza during the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. The tunnel, measuring approximately four kilometers in length, terminates near the Erez crossing but does not cross into Israeli territory. Its existence was initially discovered in mid-December of the previous year.

Over the past few weeks, the IDF, in collaboration with the engineering unit of the Gaza Division, the Yahalom unit, the Southern Command, and the Defense Ministry's engineering and construction division, has been actively investigating the tunnel. Through joint efforts, the tunnel's route was uncovered and subsequently demolished.

The exploration operations of the tunnel revealed that it reached a maximum depth of about 50 meters. The nearest shaft is located approximately 400 meters from the Erez crossing, an essential passage used by workers and patients seeking medical treatment in Israel. The tunnel's extensive network included various branches, which housed sewerage, electricity, and communication infrastructure. Intricate doors were also installed along the route to impede IDF forces from entering. Moreover, the tunnel facilitated the movement of vehicles and was found to contain numerous weapons belonging to the terrorist organization Hamas.

This successful ground maneuver provided vital intelligence, expanding the IDF's understanding of the Hamas terror tunnels and aiding in their comprehensive mapping. Since the beginning of the conflict, the IDF has been diligently locating and destroying dozens of attack tunnels, systematically dismantling Hamas infrastructure. The construction of this particular tunnel involved a team of several dozen terrorists who were specially recruited from Khan Yunis in the northern part of Gaza.

Furthermore, it was reported by Maariv that special digging machines, smuggled into the Strip, were found during the tunnel's construction. Estimates suggest that Hamas invested millions of dollars in developing their underground layout throughout the Gaza Strip. Additionally, Maariv highlighted that offensive operations against Israeli troops have been conducted from within the now-demolished tunnel. Just a few days ago, IDF forces identified and neutralized terrorists inside the tunnel.

The destruction of this significant terror tunnel marks a significant blow to Hamas and their ongoing efforts to threaten Israeli security. The IDF's success in uncovering and eliminating these tunnels underscores the vital importance of ongoing intelligence operations and the commitment to protect civilians from potential attacks.