IDF soldiers from the 98th Division found a tunnel in Khan Younis where hostages were held, according to IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari.
Hagari announced the discovery, along with images of the tunnels and the holding cells, during his daily press briefing Saturday night.
The tunnel with the cells was about 830 meters (2,720 ft) long and about 20 meters (65 ft) deep.
According to Hagari, the entrance to the tunnel was booby-trapped, and inside it there were many obstacles, explosives and blast doors.
IDF troops encountered several terrorists in the tunnel as they were exploring. The soldiers engaged them and eliminated them. When the soldiers reached the cells where hostages had been held, they had already been moved to other locations.
During the examination of the tunnel, a central chamber, where hostages were held with five barred prison cells, was discovered. The soldiers found evidence that hostages had been held captive there, including a drawing by one of the children released in the November hostage deal. The soldiers also discovered intelligence and weapons belonging to Hamas.
Photo: IDF
Hamas and its operatives are believed to have held about 20 hostages in the tunnel at different times. Some were already released, and others are allegedly still being held in Gaza.
The tunnel was located in the heart of a civilian area in Khan Younis, with the entrance to the tunnel accessible in home of a Hamas terrorist. According to intelligence estimates, millions of shekels were invested in the construction of this tunnel alone.
The tunnel was part of a branching underground network, constructed by Hamas, below Khan Younis. Last week, the IDF released new estimates regarding the length of the tunnel system below Gaza, saying that the entire network contained more than 750 km (450 miles) of tunnels, making it larger than the London Underground Metro.
At the end of the operation, after the tunnel was completely examined, it was destroyed by Israeli engineering forces.
Photo: IDF
Israeli officials are concerned the hostages are under threat due to a potentially deadly fungal infection in the tunnels.
A member of the hostage team, speaking anonymously to The Telegraph, said, “There is a deadly fungus in the tunnels with no treatment.”
At least one Israeli soldier is believed to have died from the fungal infection after becoming wounded during fighting in Gaza.
“Hamas members there are now more immune to it but there is a high chance many of the hostages are sick and deteriorating due to this fungus,” according to the official.
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