The report quoted Hamas sources as saying that tunnels were a central component of Hamas’s attack strategy against Israel.
Advertisement
Hundreds of Palestinians participated in the funerals of two members of Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s military wing, who died in a tunnel collapse in Gaza on Wednesday morning.
Last month, al Qassam brigades announced that two of its militants also died in two separate incidents in tunnels that collapsed.
Last week, seven Hamas terrorists were killed when a tunnel collapsed as a result of heavy rain in the West Bank.
Ismail Haneya, Hamas deputy chief, admitted that the militants are digging tunnels in eastern Gaza Strip, and that “the upcoming battle will be the starting point for the liberation of Jerusalem and its holy sites”.
Israel destroyed a large number of tunnels in the 2014 Gaza war, the third conflict to hit the Palestinian enclave since 2008.
“We are systematically preparing for all threats – including from Hamas”, he said.
Advertisement
“Hamas paraded yesterday a ‘captured, rebuilt Israeli tank, ‘ tweeted Ofir Gendelman, spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu”.
