Friday Jul 11, 2025
NEWSLETTER
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • News
    • Israel
    • Israel at War
    • Middle East
    • United States
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • News
    • Israel
    • Israel at War
    • Middle East
    • United States
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
Home News

IDF discovers and destroys cross-border Hamas terror tunnel

by  News Agencies and ILH Staff
Published on  04-15-2018 00:00
Last modified: 12-06-2021 14:38
IDF discovers and destroys cross-border Hamas terror tunnel

A Hamas-dug attack tunnel discovered and destroyed by the Israeli military over the weekend

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Israeli forces exposed and destroyed a Hamas-built terror tunnel over the weekend stretching across the Gaza border and several meters into Israeli territory, the IDF revealed Sunday.

The tunnel had been dug nearly as far as the Israeli community of Kibbutz Nahal Oz, near the border.

The tunnel was detected by advanced Israeli military technology. Upon its discovery, dozens of Israeli cement mixers were brought to the site to pour concrete into the tunnel and seal it.

According to the Israeli military, the method of pouring concrete into the tunnel prevents Hamas from rehabilitating the destroyed tunnel for future use, something is has attempted a number of times after Israel destroyed its tunnels by other means.

IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Ronen Manelis summed up the event Sunday, saying that "we are nearing our objective of completely removing the tunnel threat by the end of 2018. This was the fifth terror tunnel discovered within Israeli territory in recent months."

Referring to the 2014 war between Israel and Hamas, during which Israel destroyed much of Hamas' extensive tunnel infrastructure, Manelis added that "The tunnel was dug from Jabaliya [in Gaza], and work on it began after [the 2014 war] Operation Protective Edge."

"We have been monitoring it for some time, and at no point did it pose any threat to the residents of Israel," he continued. "This was the first tunnel discovered in the northern arena since Operation Protective Edge. All the rest of the tunnels were in the southern arena."

The latest Hamas tunnel was connected to a network dug in the northern Gaza Strip. The tunnel was adjacent to the site of recent mass protests, which Israel says Hamas is using as a cover for attacks.

In two weeks of border protests, more than 30 Palestinians have been killed and at least 1,500 wounded by Israeli fire. The marches have been organized by Gaza's Hamas rulers.

"The fact that the tunnel was situated within the area of the border protests is exactly what we're dealing with," Manelis noted. "If the border fence is breached, it will not only be civilians who enter [Israel] but also terror operatives who will use infrastructure like this tunnel."

"The tunnel is long and well built," Manelis added. "It only proves how cynical Hamas is – investing in tunnels instead of [Gaza] residents. This is not the way to confront Gaza's problems."

Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the tunnel destroyed over the weekend was the longest and deepest tunnel Israel has discovered thus far.

"It's a tunnel that cost millions of dollars to dig, money that instead of going to ease the hardship of Gaza's residents has sunk in the sand," he said. "Residents of Gaza: Hamas is burning your money on tunnels to nowhere."

"We are not looking to exacerbate tensions," the spokesman added. "We do not want the situation to deteriorate. We will not allow any violations of our sovereignty but at the same time we are making a lot efforts for the benefit of the [Gaza] population like increasing the fishing area and sending more trucks through the Kerem Shalom [border crossing]."

Hamas had no immediate comment.

Israel is now working on a subterranean barrier to detect and prevent attack tunnels. Israel says the barrier, as well as new technological innovations, have rendered the Hamas tunnel project futile.

So far, Israel has completed 9 kilometers of the underground barrier along the 65-kilometer border.

Israel and Hamas have fought three wars since 2008. During the most recent conflict in 2014, Israel destroyed 32 tunnels.

Related Posts

This was the moment Israel decided to strike Iran without US supportEPA, AP, AFP

This was the moment Israel decided to strike Iran without US support

by ILH Staff

After detecting nuclear activity following the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Senior Israeli official tells The New York Times...

EU could sanction Israel without consensusAFP

EU could sanction Israel without consensus

by Nissan Shtrauchler

In a precedent-setting legal review, the European Union found that a qualified majority, comprising at least 17 member states representing...

'A lie repeated 1000 times is still a lie': China's Israel envoy hits backYehoshua Yosef

'A lie repeated 1000 times is still a lie': China's Israel envoy hits back

by Erez Linn and Dudi Kogan

In first major interview with the Hebrew media, Ambassador Xiao Junzheng rejects claims that Iran is rearming with the help...

Menu

Analysis 

Archaeology

Blogpost

Business & Finance

Culture

Exclusive

Explainer

Environment

 

Features

Health

In Brief

Jewish World

Judea and Samaria

Lifestyle

Cyber & Internet

Sports

 

Diplomacy 

Iran & The Gulf

Gaza Strip

Politics

Shopping

Terms of use

Privacy Policy

Submissions

Contact Us

About Us

The first issue of Israel Hayom appeared on July 30, 2007. Israel Hayom was founded on the belief that the Israeli public deserves better, more balanced and more accurate journalism. Journalism that speaks, not shouts. Journalism of a different kind. And free of charge.

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

  • Home
  • News
    • Israel at War
    • Israel
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

Newsletter

[contact-form-7 id=”508379″ html_id=”isrh_form_Newsletter_en” title=”newsletter_subscribe”]

  • Home
  • News
    • Israel at War
    • Israel
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il