The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Sunday that it had discovered a massive Hamas tunnel system that is just 400 meters from the Erez Crossing, in the face of mounting international pressure for a ceasefire. Small cars can fit through the tunnel’s four kilometers of length, according to AFP, the news agency.
Israel claimed that the tunnel took years to build and cost millions of dollars. It had a communications network, drainage, power, and rails.
“The biggest Hamas terrorist tunnel discovered. This massive tunnel system branches out and spans well over four kilometres (2.5 miles). Its entrance is located only 400 meters (1,310 feet) from the Erez Crossing—used by Gazans daily to enter Israel for work and medical treatment in Israeli hospitals,” Israel’s army said in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter.)
This occurs as US President Joe Biden issues a strong warning to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who once again vows, “We will fight until the end.” We’ll succeed in all of our objectives, including taking out Hamas, releasing all of our hostages, and making sure Gaza never serves as a haven for terrorist activity.”
Following France, who expressed regret over the large number of civilian deaths during the conflict, the UK and Germany also called for an “immediate and durable” truce, citing the fact that “too many civilians are being killed.”