Hamas continues tunnel construction in Gaza; former hostages tell IDF chief: 'We heard Hebrew above us'

The Hamas terrorist organization continues, even now, to build new tunnels and expand existing ones, according to a report aired Sunday on Radio Kan Reshet Bet’s morning show.

Meanwhile, in a recent meeting between IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and hostages who returned from captivity in the tunnels, they shared that they had heard Hebrew being spoken above them as IDF forces operated nearby.

Last Friday, Zamir met with former hostages Liri Albag, Romi Gonen, Omer Shem Tov, and Sasha Troufanov.

The chief of staff asked whether they had heard the IDF while they were in the tunnels, and they revealed that they had heard Hebrew spoken above them when IDF forces were operating near the tunnels in which they were held underground.

“We heard explosions, chains of IDF tanks, we heard Hebrew, we heard IDF radio communications in Hebrew while we were underground,” they told Zamir.

So far, the IDF has managed to destroy only about a quarter of Hamas’s existing tunnels in the Gaza Strip. Military officials have expressed concern over the phenomenon of tunnel restoration and reconstruction.

Hamas militants are hiding in the tunnels in an effort to avoid combat with IDF forces.

When they emerge, they plant explosives and fire anti-tank missiles at the forces – then flee back into the tunnels after carrying out the attacks.

Meanwhile, the IDF continues its preparations for ongoing combat, with the goal of “replicating the Rafah model,” as was explained by a senior officer.

That source said Hamas is afraid of losing territory and its grip on the population.

“Hamas is under pressure – this is the call of the hour: to recruit reserves, seize territory, and hold onto it,” the officer stated.