Israel reveals Hamas terror tunnel network to be much larger than originally thought

Israel Defense Forces last month estimated that there are some 250 miles of Hamas tunnels dug out under the Gaza Strip but are now assessing that the network of tunnels is between 350 and 450 miles long, according to senior Israeli defense officials.

The magnitude of the tunnel networks is astonishing given that the Gaza Strip is roughly 25 miles long and no more than 7.5 miles wide, about 140 square miles in total.

The New York Times reported that Israeli intelligence officials said in the southern town of Khan Younis alone there are about 100 miles of tunnels underground. The IDF is currently fighting terrorists in the area while searching for remaining hostages. Israeli forces continuing their hunt for Gaza's top Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar – believed to be the architect behind the Oct. 7 massacre – as well as other senior commanders who are believed to be hiding in tunnels, possibly using hostages as human shields.  

There are an estimated 5,700 different tunnel shafts leading down to the underground network of tunnels, according to two Israeli defense officials speaking on condition of anonymity.

Israel has sought to destroy the Hamas terror tunnels since it began ground operations in Gaza, following the surprise invasion and brutal attack in which Hamas terrorists and their operatives killed 1,200 people, raping and committing horrific crimes, including abducting at least 240 hostages into Gaza.

According to a defense official, as Israel has fought its way deeper into Gaza, the task of uncovering the terror tunnels has become relatively easier. Previously, the official said, the IDF could spend up to a year to detect even a single tunnel but forces are now able to move faster due to the large amount of intelligence gathered during the operations.

The intelligence includes information found on computers belonging to Hamas terrorists involved in the construction of the tunnels and the finding of a list of families that helped facilitate the construction and use of the tunnels by “hosting” tunnel shafts in their homes.

In addition, the IDF discovered the “triangle” system according to which tunnels could be found below buildings, such as schools, hospitals and mosques.

However, the defense official warned that dismantling all the tunnels in Gaza could take years, especially because they must first be mapped out and thoroughly checked for booby traps before soldiers can go in and destroy them. 

So far, there are different kinds of tunnels that the IDF has discovered in Gaza – some used for fighting, others for weapons manufacturing, tunnels with command centers of senior Hamas leaders, and more.

According to the IDF’s latest intelligence, Hamas used about 6,000 tons of concrete and 1,800 tons of steel to construct its terror tunnels, which Israel estimates to have cost tens of millions of dollars.

Some of the freed hostages have described how they were held in captivity in tunnels far below ground with barely any air ventilation.

Around 132 hostages remain in Gaza, but the IDF has confirmed that at least 25 of those hostages have been killed.