IDF destroys Hamas tunnel network beneath Gaza beach resort

tel aviv (Uttam Hindu News): Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that they detected and destroyed a Hamas tunnel network built under a beach resort in Gaza.

IDF troops cracked down on the Hamas terrorist quarter beneath the Blue Beach Hotel along the beach in northern Gaza and destroyed infrastructure earlier this week, the army said in a post on Twitter late Friday.

“Hamas terrorists planned and carried out the attacks from the hotel. Several weapons were found beneath the hotel, including AK-47 assault rifles, explosives and drones.

“During the fighting, dozens of Hamas militants present in the hotel fired anti-tank missiles at IDF forces, who returned fire. “During the forces operation in the hotel area, the troops encountered and killed the terrorists.”

In a statement, the IDF said the soldiers who uncovered seven shafts leading to the tunnels were a combat team from the 14th Brigade, operating under the 162nd Division.

“IDF soldiers conducted a thorough investigation of the shaft for several days and have now destroyed the entire infrastructure,” it said.

The army also claimed that Hamas terrorists had used the hotel as a shelter and that several terrorists were killed during the operation conducted on Friday.

In December 2023, the IDF announced that it had uncovered the largest underground Hamas tunnel system in Gaza.

The system is divided into branches of tunnels, extending for more than 4 km and reaching 400 m from the Erez Crossing, a route between Gaza and Israel.

In 2021, Hamas claimed to have built 500 kilometers of tunnels beneath Gaza, although it is unclear whether this figure was accurate or cosmetic.