BEIT HANOUN, Gaza Strip (AP) - In a shocking revelation, the Israeli military has uncovered a large tunnel shaft in Gaza, close to the once bustling Erez crossing into Israel. This discovery raises questions about how Israeli surveillance missed the conspicuous preparations made by Hamas for the militants' deadly October 7 assault.

The entrance to the tunnel is just a few hundred meters away from the heavily fortified Erez crossing and an adjacent Israeli military base. The Israeli military has stated that the tunnel stretches over four kilometers (2½ miles) and connects with an extensive network of tunnels across Gaza. Remarkably, the tunnel is wide enough to accommodate cars, militants, and supplies, indicating meticulous planning for the October 7 attack.

On that fateful day, militants successfully broke through a portion of the wall near the Erez crossing, using a rocket-propelled grenade, and stormed the Israeli military base. The attack resulted in the deaths of at least three soldiers and the kidnapping of several others back to Gaza. The breach in security allowed militants to enter Israeli territory, leading to the loss of around 1,200 lives and the abduction of about 240 people.

The audacious attack triggered a devastating war that has raged for over 10 weeks, claiming more than 18,000 lives, according to Palestinian health officials in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. Israel has identified the destruction of Hamas' tunnel network as a crucial objective, highlighting the fact that many of these underground passageways are concealed beneath schools, hospitals, and residential areas.

Criticism has mounted against Israel's military, intelligence, and political officials for failing to detect the attack in advance. Maj. Nir Dinar, a military spokesperson, explained that Israel's border defenses were mainly focused on detecting tunnels that were intended to enter Israeli territory. The tunnel in question does not cross from Gaza into Israel but stops within 400 meters from the border, making it difficult to detect through conventional means. The tunnel's entrance, hidden beneath a garage, evaded detection from Israeli drones and satellite images.

Although the military was aware of Hamas' extensive tunnel network, they were caught off guard by the militants' ability to successfully carry out a large-scale attack. "It's no surprise that this was the Hamas strategy all along," said Maj. Nir Dinar. "The surprise is that they have succeeded and the size of this tunnel... was really shocking."

The Erez crossing, a heavily fortified facility that facilitated the movement of Palestinians into Israel for various reasons, held significant symbolic value for Hamas. Equipped with security cameras, military patrols, and an adjacent military base, the crossing was severely damaged during the October 7 assault and remains closed.

The Israeli military's special "Yahalom" unit, specializing in tunnel warfare, has been working diligently to excavate the discovered tunnel since its detection. During this process, they found weapons hidden inside. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the chief military spokesman, confirmed the existence of at least two other "city-sized" tunnels of similar magnitude that are still being mapped.

"This was a flagship project that was waiting, finished and ready," Hagari declared during a news conference. He highlighted that the tunnel was operational during the war and Israeli soldiers had successfully neutralized Hamas militants within it.

The Israeli military displayed the burned-out soldiers' barracks at the nearby base, which were set ablaze by the militants. The remnants resembled a furnace, with walls turned black and bunks melted. On Friday, the military announced the recovery of the bodies of two soldiers who were present at the base during the October 7 attack.

Maj. Nir Dinar, who personally inspected the tunnel, revealed that it is twice the height and three times the width of other tunnels discovered in Gaza. Equipped with ventilation and electricity, the tunnel reaches depths of 50 meters underground in certain sections. Dinar emphasized that the construction and maintenance of the tunnel required millions of dollars, significant fuel supplies, and a substantial workforce.

The Israeli military plans to destroy the tunnel and continue the pursuit of militants hiding in others. "We will hunt them even if we need to go down to the tunnels," affirmed Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari. He also acknowledged the need to prioritize the rescue of hostages, considering the possibility that some may be trapped within these underground passageways.