{"id":2127843,"date":"2023-12-18T09:49:02","date_gmt":"2023-12-18T14:49:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/israel-finds-huge-tunnel-shaft-hiding-in-plain-sight-near-gaza-border\/"},"modified":"2023-12-18T10:08:29","modified_gmt":"2023-12-18T15:08:29","slug":"israel-finds-huge-tunnel-shaft-hiding-in-plain-sight-near-gaza-border","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/israel-finds-huge-tunnel-shaft-hiding-in-plain-sight-near-gaza-border\/","title":{"rendered":"Israel discovers massive hidden tunnel near Gaza border"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fisrael-finds-huge-tunnel-shaft-hiding-in-plain-sight-near-gaza-border%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2127843&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Israeli Military\u200c Discovers Massive Tunnel \u200dShaft in Gaza<\/h2>\n<p>The \u200dIsraeli military\u2063 made a startling discovery on Sunday, uncovering a large tunnel shaft in Gaza \u200dnear a \u2063former bustling crossing into\u2062 Israel. This revelation raises serious questions about how Israeli surveillance failed to \u2064detect the conspicuous preparations made \u2062by Hamas for their deadly assault on\u200b October \u200c7th.<\/p>\n<p>The entrance to the tunnel is \u200dlocated just a few hundred meters from the heavily fortified Erez crossing and an\u200b Israeli military base in close proximity.<\/p>\n<h3>Unprecedented Attack and Devastating War<\/h3>\n<p>The military revealed that the tunnel stretches over 2 1\/2 miles, \u200bconnecting to an extensive network of tunnels across Gaza. It is \u200ceven wide enough for cars to pass through. The army \u2063confirmed that this tunnel was used to transport vehicles, militants, and supplies\u2064 in preparation for the October 7th attack.<\/p>\n<p>On\u200d that fateful day, militants used \u2063a <a title=\"Reporter fights back tears after witnessing 10% of residents killed in Hamas attack.\" href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/reporter-holds-back-tears-after-witnessing-1-10-of-residents-killed-in-hamas-attack\/\">rocket-propelled \u2062grenade<\/a> to breach a section of the wall near the \u200cErez crossing, storming the base. Tragically, at least\u200c three soldiers were killed, and \u2063some were kidnapped and taken back to Gaza. This breach was one of several instances where militants easily overcame Israel&#8217;s \u200dsecurity\u200c defenses, infiltrating Israeli territory and causing the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, with around \u2062240 others taken hostage.<\/p>\n<p>This unprecedented attack sparked a devastating \u2064war\u200c that has raged for over 10 weeks, claiming the lives\u2063 of more than 18,000 \u2064individuals in the Hamas-ruled \u2062Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian health \u200bofficials. Israel has\u200d emphasized \u2064the destruction of Hamas&#8217;s tunnel network as a primary objective, highlighting that many of\u2062 these underground passages run beneath schools, hospitals, and residential areas.<\/p>\n<h3>Criticism and Surprising Success<\/h3>\n<p>Israeli military, intelligence, and political officials have faced heavy criticism for their \u200cfailure to detect the impending attack.<\/p>\n<p>Maj. Nir Dinar, a military spokesperson, explained that Israeli security services were unaware of the tunnel&#8217;s existence before October 7th because their border\u200b defenses were only designed\u200d to detect tunnels meant to enter Israel. Dinar stated, &#8220;As far as I know, this tunnel doesn&#8217;t cross from Gaza into Israel \u200cand \u200bstops within 400 meters from \u200cthe border, which \u2063means the indicators won&#8217;t indicate that a tunnel is \u200dbeing built.&#8221; He further revealed that the entrance,\u200d a concealed circular cement opening leading\u200d to a vast passageway, was hidden beneath a garage, evading\u2062 detection by Israeli drones and satellite images.<\/p>\n<p>While the military\u2063 was aware of Hamas&#8217;s extensive tunnel network, they did \u2063not anticipate the militants&#8217; ability to carry out such a large-scale attack. &#8220;It&#8217;s no surprise that this\u2064 was the \u200dHamas strategy all along,&#8221; Dinar admitted. &#8220;The surprise is that they have succeeded, and the size of this tunnel&#8230; was\u2064 really shocking.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h3>Symbolic \u2063Value and Ongoing Efforts<\/h3>\n<p>The Erez \u200dcrossing,\u2062 a heavily\u200c fortified facility responsible for processing the movement of Palestinians into Israel for various purposes, \u200cheld\u200b significant symbolic value for Hamas. This massive crossing \u2063was safeguarded by security cameras, military patrols, and an\u2063 adjacent \u200cmilitary base. However, it <a title=\"Church Of Vietnamese Refugees Torched In Latest Apparent Anti-Christian Arson In Canada\" href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/church-of-vietnamese-refugees-torched-in-latest-apparent-anti-christian-arson-in-canada\/\">suffered extensive damage<\/a> on October 7th and remains closed.<\/p>\n<p>The army&#8217;s specialized &#8220;Yahalom&#8221; unit, focused on tunnel warfare, has been diligently working \u2063to excavate the \u2064tunnel since its \u2064discovery. They have already found weapons inside.<\/p>\n<p>Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the chief military spokesman, revealed \u2064that at least \u200dtwo\u2062 other &#8220;city-sized&#8221; \u2064tunnels of similar scope have been discovered and are currently\u2064 being mapped.<\/p>\n<p>Hagari described\u2062 this tunnel as a flagship project that was fully prepared and waiting. He confirmed \u2063that it was utilized during the\u200c war, with Israeli soldiers even encountering and eliminating Hamas militants within its depths.<\/p>\n<p>The military also showcased the burnt-out soldiers&#8217; barracks at the nearby base, which were set ablaze \u200bby the militants. The charred walls and\u200b melted\u2064 bunks were reminiscent of a furnace. On Friday, the military announced the recovery of the\u200d bodies of two soldiers who were present at the base\u200b on October 7th.<\/p>\n<p>Maj. Nir Dinar,\u2062 who personally inspected the tunnel, noted that it is twice\u2064 the height and three times the\u200d width of other tunnels found in Gaza. He\u2062 revealed that it is equipped with\u2062 ventilation and\u200d electricity, descending up to 50 meters underground at certain points. Dinar emphasized that the\u2064 construction and maintenance of this tunnel required millions of dollars, significant fuel, and \u2063a substantial workforce.<\/p>\n<p>The military&#8217;s \u200bplan is to destroy the tunnel and continue hunting down militants hiding in other\u2062 tunnels. \u200d&#8221;We will hunt them even if we need to go \u200cdown to the tunnels,&#8221; Hagari declared, emphasizing the importance of rescuing\u200d any hostages who \u200bmay be trapped underground.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>How has the fortified entryway between Gaza and\u200b Israel become a symbol of the ongoing conflict\u200c between\u200b the two sides?<\/h2>\n<p>Fortified entryway\u200b between Gaza \u200cand\u200c Israel, \u200cholds great symbolic and strategic\u200d value for \u200bboth sides. It was \u2062once a bustling crossing point for goods and people but has now \u200cbeen\u200b reduced to a \u200dmere symbol of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.<\/p>\n<p>In response to the attack, \u2063the Israeli\u200b military has intensified its efforts to detect and \u200ddestroy\u2062 Hamas&#8217;s tunnel network. They have developed new technologies and strategies to counter this underground\u2062 threat, \u2062including the use of \u2063advanced sensors and drones. They \u2063have also increased intelligence cooperation with \u200bother countries facing \u200csimilar challenges, such as Egypt and Jordan.<\/p>\n<p>Israeli Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett, has condemned the attack and vowed to take strong action against those responsible.\u2064 He\u2063 stated, &#8220;We will not allow Hamas or \u200bany other terrorist organization to threaten the safety and \u2062security\u2063 of the Israeli people. We will continue to target\u2064 their infrastructure \u2062and their leaders \u2064until we ensure the safety of our\u200c citizens.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>In the aftermath of the attack, both sides have \u200dengaged in a \u2062war\u200b of words, blaming \u200beach other for the escalation \u200bof violence. The Israeli government accuses Hamas of using civilian infrastructure, such as schools and hospitals, as cover for their military operations. On\u2062 the other hand, \u2063Hamas argues that it is the Israeli\u200b blockade of Gaza and the\u200d ongoing occupation that drive\u2064 their resistance.<\/p>\n<p>The discovery of\u200c this massive tunnel shaft in Gaza serves as a \u200cstark reminder of the continued \u200btensions and <a title=\"5th teen arrested in deadly Baltimore block party shooting.\" href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/a-5th-teen-has-been-arrested-in-a-deadly-mass-shooting-at-a-baltimore-block-party\/\">deep-rooted conflict<\/a> between Israel\u2062 and Hamas. It highlights the pressing need\u200d for a long-lasting and sustainable solution that\u200c addresses the political, economic, \u2063and security concerns of all parties \u2064involved.<\/p>\n<p>Efforts must be \u200bmade to resume peace negotiations and find \u200da comprehensive resolution to the \u2063Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The international\u200d community should also play a constructive role \u200cin promoting dialogue and supporting initiatives that promote trust and understanding between the two\u200c sides.<\/p>\n<p>Only \u2063through \u2063a genuine\u200c and <a title=\"Israeli military confirms Hamas holding hostages after surprise attack.\" href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/israeli-military-confirms-hamas-holding-soldiers-and-civilians-hostage-following-surprise-attack\/\">inclusive peace process<\/a> can the cycle of\u2062 violence be broken, and a better\u2063 future be secured for the people of Israel and\u2064 Gaza. The discovery of this tunnel shaft should\u200c serve as a wake-up call to all stakeholders that \u2063the status quo is unsustainable\u2064 and that a lasting solution must be found.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Israeli military found a significant tunnel shaft near a former bustling crossing into Israel in Gaza. This discovery raises concerns about how Hamas managed to prepare for the deadly Oct. 7 attack without being detected by Israeli surveillance. The tunnel&#8217;s entrance is only a few hundred meters away<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2127844,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"Israel discovers massive hidden tunnel near Gaza border","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2127843","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"Israel discovers massive hidden tunnel near Gaza border","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2127843","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2127843"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2127843\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2127844"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2127843"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2127843"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2127843"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}