The IDF completed its destruction in the early hours of Sunday morning of a Hamas terror tunnel that was attacked by Israeli jets Saturday evening underneath the Kerem Shalom border crossing.

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The tunnel reached all the way to the Egyptian side of the border and was dug from Rafah at a length of approximately 1.5 kilometers.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the same evening that Israel would continuue to “systematically respond with even greater force” to terror attacks launched by Hamas from the Gaza Strip, confirming that the Israel Air Force (IAF) had attacked the Hamas target in the southern Gazan city.

Tunnel discovered by the IDF (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

“There are people who say that the IDF attacks sand dunes. That is not correct. We are responding to aggression against the State of Israel and are taking vigorous and systematic action against hostile infrastructures,” Netanyahu said as he boarded the plane for his departure for India.

“Hamas needs to understand that we won’t allow these continued attacks and we will respond with even greater force.”

PM Netanyahu and Sara Netanyahu board plane for India (Photo: Avi Ohayon/GPO)

Israeli planes bombed the tunnel opening at around 11pm Saturday night on the Gazan side in Rafah, some 900 meters from the enclave’s border with Israel.

The tunnel penetrated 180 meters into Israel territory, passing underneath Kerem Shalom, the only commercial crossing between Gaza and Israel which serves as the conduit for gas and diesel pipelines and antennas. Israel shut down the crossing before the IAF attack until further notice.

IDF Spokesperson Brigadier-General Ronen Manelis denied claims made by Hamas that the tunnel was merely intended for smuggling.

IAF F-15 jet (Photo: Reuters)

“This is the first terror tunnel of its kind that has been dug over the last year and was still being worked on. It’s possible that the it was dug on the Egyptian side to stage a combined attack in the future on the Kerem Shalom crossing from the Egyptian side too and to transport activists or weapons to the Sinai,” Manelis said.

“It is a significant asset for Hamas. We will continue to act rigorously against the terror tunnels and we are not interested in an escalation of the situation,” Manelis continued. “The tunnel endangered the Kerem Shalom crossing and Hamas did this cynically and absurdly.”

Yoav Galant, a member of Netanyahu's Security Cabinet, also said on Army Radio that Israel is "not looking for confrontation with Hamas." Nonetheless, he said Israel "could not abide by a situation in which Israelis are harmed by fire (from Gaza)".

(Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

The incident marks the fourth time the IDF has uncovered and destroyed Hamas tunnels in the last three months, but a different method was adopted to neutralize the latest tunnel.

“One time it is an incident, two times it is a coincidence and three times it is a system,” Manelis asserted. “The IDF has the most advanced ability in the world against tunnels, but it is not a magic solution and it is still a process. Through that crossing, tens of thousands of tons of merchandise is transported to the Palestinians.”

Other officials in the IDF also refuted Hamas claims that the tunnel was intended only for smuggling. “We know how smuggling tunnels look … and this is absolutely a terror tunnel, the central part of which was dug underneath a commercial crossing.”

Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that the tunnel was a flagrant violation of Israel’s sovereignty. “The destruction of the attack tunnels is an essential component of the policy of systematically striking Hamas’s strategic capabilities,” Lieberman said. “The message to Gaza’s leadership ad residents is clear: Invest in the sanctity of life, no in burial tunnels.”

Hamas militants in a tunnel (Photo: Reuters)

A military committee charged with reviewing Operation Protective Edge published in October 2016 some of its conclusions, including a belief that the IDF was not adequately prepared for the tunnel threats on the eve of the war.

In September 2016, a senior Israeli military official said a massive underground barrier being built along the Gaza border to defend against Hamas tunnels should be finished in a matter of months.</s>Jerusalem (CNN) The Israeli military said Sunday it destroyed a mile-long tunnel that stretched from Gaza under Israel and into Egypt.

"Necessary coordination" was made with Egyptian authorities, Israeli military spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus said.

The Israeli military at first described the target as a "terror infrastructure" site, in a statement shortly after the strike, clarifying that it was a tunnel in a conference call with reporters Sunday.

Israel blamed Hamas for building the tunnel and says it holds the Islamist group responsible for all actions emanating from Gaza.

The tunnel, which began approximately 900 meters into the coastal enclave along the Gaza-Egypt border, crossed into Israel under the Kerem Shalom border crossing before continuing into Egypt.

Read More</s>JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli military said Sunday it destroyed an attack tunnel built by the Hamas militant group that stretched from the Gaza Strip, through Israel and into Egypt, and that ran past Israeli military posts as well as gas and fuel pipelines.

Military spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus said the 1.5-kilometer (1-mile) long tunnel ran underneath the Kerem Shalom border crossing, Gaza’s main point of entry for humanitarian aid.

He said Israeli jets struck part of the tunnel and a new set of sophisticated “tools” destroyed the rest. Conricus said forces had been monitoring its construction for some time and an imminent attack on Israelis was possible. The crossing has been closed until further notice.

Israel has made neutralizing the tunnel threat a top priority since its 2014 war, when Hamas militants on several occasions made their way into Israel. Although they did not manage to reach civilian areas, the infiltrations caught Israel off guard, killing five soldiers in one attack, and terrified the local population.

Sunday’s operation marked the third such tunnel Israel has destroyed over the past two months. But Conricus said this did not mark “more of the same” since it involved the most advanced technological means Israel has deployed.

“(We) now hold a method, an organized system to destroy terror tunnels dug into Israel,” he said in an early morning briefing to reporters. “This is a key mission for us and our intention is to allow quiet and to deter Hamas so we can continue to build the obstacle.”

Hamas initially said a typical smuggling tunnel was destroyed, but had no immediate response to the Israeli announcement. There were no casualties in the Israeli airstrike. The demolition of a tunnel belonging to the Islamic Jihad militant group in November killed a dozen militants.

Speaking from India, where he is on an official visit, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented on the significance of the operation. “We are systematically destroying Hamas’ and Islamic Jihad’s tunnel infrastructure. Let them not mess with us,” he said.

Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the tunnel’s construction was a clear violation of Israeli sovereignty and destroying it delivered a stinging blow to one of Hamas’ most significant assets. “The message to Gaza’s leadership and residents is clear — invest in the sanctity of life and not these burial tunnels,” he said.

Conricus, the military spokesman, noted that the tunnel’s route stretched underneath the Kerem Shalom crossing, where 15 million tons of food, clothing, construction material and other essential goods had been transferred into Gaza since the 2014 war. Israel and Egypt have maintained a crippling blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power in 2007.

Conricus said the crossing itself was a potential target, as well as the gas and fuel pipelines. The tunnel could have also been used to transfer militants and arms for attacks in Israel or Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, he said.

“It was a terror tunnel designed to strike strategic Israel assets,” he said.

He didn’t specify which tools were used, but in the past Israel has said its new system involves combat units, military intelligence, logistics and research to destroy the tunnels. The military released photos and video of a wide tunnel with concrete paneled walls.</s>The Israeli military has said it destroyed an attack tunnel built by the Hamas militant group that stretched from the Gaza Strip into Egypt.

Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus said the mile-long tunnel ran underneath the Kerem Shalom border crossing, Gaza's main point of entry for humanitarian aid.

He said Israeli jets struck part of the tunnel and a new set of sophisticated "tools" destroyed the rest. There were no casualties.

Lt Col Conricus said forces had been monitoring its construction for some time and an imminent attack on Israelis was possible. The crossing has been closed until further notice.

Israel has made neutralising the tunnel threat a top priority since its 2014 war, when Hamas militants on several occasions made their way into Israel.

Although they did not manage to reach civilian areas, the infiltrations caught Israel off guard, killing five soldiers in one attack, and terrified the local population.

Sunday's operation marked the third such tunnel Israel has destroyed over the past two months.

But Lt Col Conricus said this did not mark "more of the same" since it involved the most advanced technological means Israel has deployed.

"(We) now hold a method, an organised system to destroy terror tunnels dug into Israel," he said.

He said the tunnel's route stretched underneath the Kerem Shalom crossing, where 15 million tons of food, clothing, construction material and other essential goods had been transferred into Gaza since the 2014 war.

Israel and Egypt have maintained a crippling blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power in 2007.

Lt Col Conricus said the crossing itself was a potential target, as well as gas and fuel pipelines. The tunnel could have also been used to transfer militants and arms for attacks in Israel or Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, he said.

"It was a terror tunnel designed to strike strategic Israel assets," he said.

He did not specify which tools were used, but in the past Israel has said its new system involves combat units, military intelligence, logistics and research to destroy the tunnels.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "We are responding to aggression against the state of Israel and are taking vigorous and systematic action against hostile infrastructures."

Defence minister Avigdor Lieberman said the tunnel's construction was a clear violation of Israeli sovereignty and destroying it delivered a stinging blow to one of Hamas' most significant assets.

"The message to Gaza's leadership and residents is clear - invest in the sanctity of life and not these burial tunnels," he said.</s>Eight Palestinians killed after Israel blows up tunnel stretching from Gaza Strip

Israel said Sunday it used a combination of air strikes and other means to destroy a tunnel stretching from the Gaza Strip into the country and continuing into Egypt.

Military spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus noted that the tunnel's route stretched underneath the Kerem Shalom crossing, where 15 million tons of food, clothing, construction material and other essential goods had been transferred into Gaza since the 2014 war. Israel and Egypt have maintained a crippling blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power in 2007.

He said Israeli jets struck part of the tunnel and a new set of sophisticated "tools" destroyed the rest. The crossing has been closed till further notice.

The strikes occurred within the Gaza Strip, while further means were carried out in Israeli territory.

The tunnel began east of the city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip, crossed into Israel some 180 meters, then continued into Egypt for an unspecified length, with no exit point detected, he said.

Conricus said Israel had coordinated with Egypt on the operation.

The army said they didn't know whether they killed or injured anyone during the incident.

The latest tunnel was the third destroyed since late October by Israel, but it comes at a particularly sensitive time.

Tensions between Palestinians and Israel have been high since U.S. President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital on December 6.</s>The Israeli military says it has destroyed a tunnel built by the Hamas militant group that stretched from the Gaza Strip, though Israel and into Egypt.

Military spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus says Sunday the 1.5-kilometer (1-mile) long tunnel ran underneath the Kerem Shalom border crossing, Gaza’s main point of humanitarian aid, and under strategic gas and fuel pipelines. He says Israeli jets struck part of the tunnel and a new set of sophisticated “tools” destroyed the rest.

He said forces had been monitoring its construction for some time and an imminent attack on Israelis was possible.

Israel has placed a high priority on halting the tunnel threat since Hamas infiltrated Israel during the 2014 war. It marks the third such tunnel Israel has destroyed over the past two months.</s>The tunnel, which originated in Rafah in Gaza, stretched hundreds of yards into both Israeli and Egyptian territory. The tunnel was dug under the Kerem Shalom border crossing, including going underneath the gas and diesel pipelines located under the crossing.

The Kerem Shalom crossing, the only commercial crossing between Gaza and Israel, was closed on Saturday night until further notice.

Israeli jets bombed the tunnel opening on the Gaza side of the border late on Saturday night.

Hamas claimed the tunnel was used only for smuggling, a claim that was denied by the IDF. The IDF said the tunnel was used to smuggle weapons and terrorists into both Israel and Egypt.

“This is a severe breach of Israel’s sovereignty, a serious threat to Israeli civilians and a threat to the humanitarian efforts that Israel allows for the people in the Gaza Strip,” the IDF said in a statement. The IDF said it holds Hamas responsible for all activity emanating from Gaza.

It is at least the third Gaza terror tunnel destroyed by the IDF in recent months. The IDF also said the tunnel, with an arm also reaching into Egypt and going directly under the Kerem Shalom crossing, is unlike other tunnels it has seen.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the strike on the tunnel as he boarded a plane late Saturday night for an official visit to India: “This evening, the IDF attacked a main Hamas terrorist infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. There are some who say that the IDF attacks sand dunes – this is incorrect. We are responding to aggression against the State of Israel and are taking vigorous and systematic action against hostile infrastructures.”

The IDF expects to destroy more tunnels in the near future. Over the past year, the military has been building an underground barrier around the Gaza Strip to prevent other tunnels from being built from Gaza to Israel.</s>Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Israel Defense Forces on Sunday said the air force destroyed a mile-long tunnel built by Hamas under Gaza, Israel and Egypt.

Israeli military spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus told CNN the strike was carried out Saturday with "necessary coordination" with Egypt.

Sources told the Palestinian News Network no one was injured in the strike.

"This is a blatant violation of Israeli sovereignty, endangering the citizens of Israel and sabotaging the humanitarian efforts that Israel is making for the citizens of Gaza," an IDF statement read.

Israel said the tunnel was being used to smuggle weapons and militants from Egypt into the Gaza Strip in order to attack the Kerem Shalom crossing. The IDF also closed the crossing.

"The terrorist organization Hamas is responsible for everything happening in and out of the Gaza Strip," the IDF said.

Cornricus said that if the tunnel was only to smuggle harmless goods, there was no need for it to go under Kerem Shalom.

This is the third tunnel into Gaza Israel has destroyed in two months.</s>JERUSALEM — The Israeli military said Sunday it destroyed a tunnel built by the Hamas militant group that stretched from the Gaza Strip through Israel and into Egypt, and that ran past Israeli military posts as well as gas and fuel pipelines.

Military spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus said the 1.5-kilometre-long tunnel ran underneath the Kerem Shalom border crossing, Gaza's main point of entry for humanitarian aid.

He said Israeli jets struck part of the tunnel and a new set of sophisticated "tools" destroyed the rest. Conricus said forces had been monitoring its construction for some time and an imminent attack on Israelis was possible. The crossing has been closed until further notice.

Israel has made neutralizing the tunnel threat a top priority since its 2014 war, when Hamas militants on several occasions made their way into Israel. Although they did not manage to reach civilian areas, the infiltrations caught Israel off guard, killing five soldiers in one attack, and terrified the local population.

Sunday's operation marked the third such tunnel Israel has destroyed over the past two months. Conricus said this did not mark "more of the same" since it involved the most advanced technological means Israel has deployed.

"(We) now hold a method, an organized system to destroy terror tunnels dug into Israel," he said in an early morning briefing to reporters. "This is a key mission for us."

Hamas initially said a typical smuggling tunnel was destroyed, but had no immediate response to the Israeli announcement. There were no casualties in the Israeli airstrike. The demolition of a tunnel belonging to the Islamic Jihad militant group in October killed a dozen militants.

Speaking from India, where he is on an official visit, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented on the significance of the operation. "We are systematically destroying Hamas' and Islamic Jihad's tunnel infrastructure. Let them not mess with us," he said.

Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the tunnel's construction was a clear violation of Israeli sovereignty and destroying it delivered a stinging blow to one of Hamas' most significant assets. "The message to Gaza's leadership and residents is clear — invest in the sanctity of life and not these burial tunnels," he said.

Maj. Gen. Yoav Mordechai, who heads COGAT, the defence body responsible for Palestinian civilian matters, told the Arabic-language Alhurra TV station that Israel had information about other tunnels and that "soon, we will hear about the uncovering of the existing tunnels."</s>Traffic is set to return to normal at the Kerem Shalom Crossing into the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, just days after the IDF destroyed an attack tunnel with an exit adjacent to the crossing, The Times of Israel reported on Monday.

“The [IDF’s] Southern Command completed the neutralization of the terror tunnel dug under the crossing and thwarted the threat it posed,” the army said in a statement on Monday evening.

“With the completion of the process and following an assessment of the situation, it was decided the crossing will reopen,” the military said.

The crossing is the main route through which humanitarian aid and commercial goods enter Gaza, via hundreds of tractor-trailers each day.

On Motzoei Shabbos, Israeli jets and ground forces obliterated the Hamas-dug tunnel, which the IDF said was to be used for a terrorist attack on the Kerem Shalom Crossing, an IDF installation, and gas and diesel pipelines.

Meanwhile, more details about the tunnel emerged on Monday night.

The IDF said it was built on a bigger scale than tunnels previously uncovered, measuring several dozen meters deep (3 feet to a meter), and with a height and width sufficient to let through a force of several dozen terrorists with armaments.
The Israel Defense Forces report the complete destruction of an underground tunnel dug by Hamas under the Kerem Shalom crossing. Israel shut down the crossing before its jets bombed the tunnel opening in Gaza Saturday night. The crossing remains closed.