The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have revealed one of Hamas’s largest and most complex underground infrastructures, stretching nearly seven kilometers and reaching depths of 25 meters beneath the southern Gaza city of Rafah. The network, described as one of the group’s most sophisticated, includes approximately 80 rooms used for command operations, weapon storage, and shelter for militants. According to the IDF, the tunnel originated beneath a United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) compound and extended under civilian sites, including mosques and schools, which raises concerns about the risk to civilian populations.
The IDF released a video on X (formerly Twitter), showing the tunnel’s reinforced concrete passageways and large chambers, illustrating its scale and complexity. The network is believed to have been connected to the location where Israeli soldier Lt. Hadar Goldin, who was abducted during the 2014 Gaza war, was held captive. Hamas returned Goldin’s remains earlier this month after more than a decade. The tunnel’s exposure provides new insights into the extent of Hamas’s underground operations.
Israeli analysts have hailed the destruction of this tunnel as a major strategic blow to Hamas. Professor Kobi Michael of the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) and the Misgav Institute stated that such root tunnels form the backbone of Hamas’s underground warfare system. He emphasized that these tunnels are used for command and control, weapon storage, and manufacturing, making them critical to the group’s operational capabilities. The destruction of such networks, Michael argued, pushes Hamas to the brink and weakens its ability to sustain attacks on Israel.
As Israel continues its operations in Gaza, the dismantling of Hamas’s tunnel networks is central to its strategy of neutralizing the group’s military capabilities. In 2014, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had stated his intent to destroy these tunnels, which had been used by Hamas militants to infiltrate Israeli territory,