Date: November 19, 2023

The Israeli military announced on Sunday that it had discovered a tunnel dug by Palestinian operatives under Gaza's largest hospital. The tunnel, measuring 55 meters in length and located 10 meters deep, was revealed during an intelligence-based operation conducted by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israel Security Agency (ISA).

In a statement, the IDF highlighted that this type of tunnel, equipped with a blast-proof door, is commonly used by the Hamas terrorist organization to shield its command centers and underground assets from Israeli forces. Although Hamas has been known to operate a extensive network of secret tunnels, bunkers, and access shafts throughout the Gaza Strip, it has denied using civilian infrastructure such as hospitals as hiding places.

The tunnel entrance was accessed through a shaft discovered inside a shed located within Gaza City's Al Shifa Hospital compound. Additionally, the shed was found to contain munitions. Israel has been conducting search-and-destroy missions against Hamas during the ongoing seven-week conflict.

The Israeli military did not provide further details about what was located beyond the blast-proof door at the tunnel's end. However, the discovery underscores the complexity and sophistication of the underground infrastructure utilized by Hamas.

Israel, through the publication of the video and the announcement of the tunnel's discovery, aims to emphasize the need for continuous operations against Hamas and its military capabilities. The IDF's efforts have been focused on mitigating the threat posed by the terrorist organization's infrastructure.

As the conflict in Gaza continues, it remains to be seen how this latest discovery and the ongoing search-and-destroy missions will impact the dynamics on the ground and the prospects for a peaceful resolution.