IDF destroys Hamas tunnel network around Rantisi hospital

Tel Aviv (Uttam Hindu News): The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Thursday that it had destroyed a network of several kilometers long strategic tunnels under and around the Rantisi hospital in northern Gaza. It also said that the tunnel network passed near the Fahrah school in Ramah in the same area. The IDF said it had clear information that Hamas militants had arrived at Rantisi Hospital shortly after killing 1,200, wounding more than 3,000 and abducting 240 in the October 7 massacre in southern Israel.

IDF spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, showed visual footage of the tunnel network around and beneath Rantisi Hospital to media persons at a press conference on 13 November. They also said that the presence of material within the tunnel network indicated that some of the hostages kidnapped from Israel on October 7 were kept in this tunnel network. He gave the example of baby bottles and rope chairs present in the tunnel network.

The IDF said in the statement that some of these tunnels were dozens of meters deep. The tunnel beneath the school was up to 20 meters deep. The tunnel network used an elevator and proper electrical connections and capabilities and served as a command center for Hamas terrorists. IDF sources told IANS that its military intelligence branch and the Shin Bet had provided specific and accurate information about the tunnel network around and under the Rantisi hospital in northern Gaza. According to sources, this information was collected from those Hamas operatives who were arrested earlier.