The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported the discovery of what is described as the largest tunnel system linked to Hamas, according to the army press service on Telegram.
Preliminary details indicate that the tunnel network sits near Israel’s border with the Gaza Strip, approximately 400 meters from the Erez crossing. The routes are said to run northward into the Gaza Strip and are attributed to the leadership circle around Hamas’ military commander Mohammed Deif’s inner circle, with reports tying it to the brother of Hamas’ top military figure Mohammed Sinwar.
The press service noted that, following a reconnaissance operation, more than 4 kilometers of tunnel passages have been uncovered, with the deepest sections reaching roughly 50 meters below the surface.
In December, the IDF announced the destruction of three Hamas tunnels located beneath a facility used by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
Earlier, in early October, Hamas executed a large-scale rocket assault on Israel, proclaiming the start of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. During the offensive, thousands of militants breached Israeli territory, seized military assets, and captured hundreds of people. Israel responded with Operation Iron Sword in the Gaza Strip, pledging to dismantle Hamas. The escalation contributed to a blockade of the Gaza Strip, heavy bombardments, and mass displacement, with calls for as many as a million residents to move southward for safety.
On November 22, Israel approved a wartime arrangement with Hamas to free hostages held in Gaza. The agreement outlined a four-day ceasefire during which Hamas would release 50 women and children, with Red Cross teams allowed to visit the remaining captives to furnish medical care. Israel’s permanent representative to the United Nations stated that, once the pause ends, efforts would continue to resolve issues related to the Palestinian region. The ceasefire began on November 24 but was suspended on December 1 after Israel asserted Hamas had not met the release conditions.
In other developments, a Russian official suggested the possibility of a protracted, century-long conflict in the Middle East.