Israel says troops have destroyed 130 Hamas tunnels since war began

Israeli troops have destroyed at least 130 tunnels in the Gaza Strip since beginning the ground phase of a mission to destroy the Hamas terror group, an Israel Defense Forces spokesman said Wednesday.

Hamas militants had used the tunnels to store weapons, move from building to building in Gaza and hide from Israeli military attacks, said IDF spokesman Adm. Daniel Hagari.

“With the expansion of the ground operation in the Gaza Strip, the [IDF] fighters are thwarting the terrorist infrastructure of Hamas,” he said in a message posted on social media.

It was clear the Hamas fighters intended a prolonged stay inside the tunnel system, which has been dubbed “the Metro,” by IDF officials. Although the water supply for civilians in Gaza is spotty, Hamas connected its tunnels to water and fresh air, Adm. Hagari said.

“The [IDF] fighters raided a training post in the northern Gaza Strip,” he said. “Tunnels were located under the post and after they were exposed, the shafts in the post were destroyed.”

Israel launched its campaign in the Gaza Strip after the October 7 massacre by Hamas in which more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians, were killed and hundreds of others taken hostage.