Security sources said on Wednesday that the Israeli army (IDF) has only destroyed about a quarter of the Hamas tunnels in the Gaza Strip
In addition, many tunnels used for smuggling, which connect Egypt to Gaza, remain intact.
The border between Egypt and Gaza is a point of concern, mainly because of arms smuggling.
For this reason, Israel refuses to leave the area called the Philadelphia Corridor, which functions as a security zone.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said at a conference in February, according to the N12 channel: “I saw with my own eyes several tunnels that go to Egypt.
Some were closed, but many were open.” He also mentioned that there were reports that Hamas planned to attack soldiers and communities during a ceasefire.
Even with efforts to control this area, experts believe that keeping the border occupied may not be enough to prevent the entry of weapons.
The news comes after fighting resumed in the Gaza Strip and a military order issued in late March to evacuate residents of Rafah, in southern Gaza.
The Israeli army had previously withdrawn from Rafah in January following a ceasefire agreement that has now collapsed.
Less than two weeks ago, the IDF reported that soldiers from the Yahalom Unit destroyed a one-kilometer-long Hamas tunnel.
The army’s 143rd, 252nd and 36th divisions are currently operating in the area.
Hamas terrorists fleeing the area
The Israeli army also told N12 that many Hamas terrorists are fleeing the combat zones.
They are reportedly hiding among civilians and inside tunnels, likely to avoid direct confrontation with soldiers.
The IDF explained that its operations in Gaza are more spread out, with less face-to-face combat, but believes this is temporary.
They believe that at some point, Hamas will be forced to face the soldiers directly again.
Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said: “Our troops, led by the Southern Command, are intensifying the operation, and this will continue at a calm and steady pace.
The only thing that can stop our advance is the release of our hostages.
If they return, our forces can redeploy, and negotiations can continue.”
Published in 04/10/2025 03h35
Text adapted by AI (Grok) and translated via Google API in the English version. Images from public image libraries or credits in the caption.
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