Worthy Christian News > Israel-Palestinian Conflict > Israel Has Destroyed 50 Tunnels Under Philadelphi Corridor Over Past Month

Israel Has Destroyed 50 Tunnels Under Philadelphi Corridor Over Past Month

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Over the past month, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) demolished at least 50 tunnels under the Philadelphi Corridor, which separates the Gaza Strip from Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula; these tunnels were used by Hamas to smuggle weapons and munitions for waging war against Israel.

“The [Combat Engineering Corps’] Yahalom [special operations] unit and 605th Battalion have been active in the Philadelphi Corridor in Rafah over the past month,” the IDF stated.

“The forces have destroyed approximately 50 underground infrastructures belonging to Hamas during their engineering operations,” according to the IDF.

In May, Israeli forces took control of the Philadelphi Corridor, identifying and destroying dozens of tunnels, including at least 25 that extended into Egypt.

Hamas has historically utilized this border area to illicitly transport weapons and other materials into Gaza through an extensive network of tunnels.

While Israel dispatched a delegation to Doha for negotiations aimed at securing the release of 115 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, concerns persist that engaging with Hamas might compromise Israel’s control over the Philadelphi Corridor.

However, an Israeli official reinforced the government’s position to The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday, stating that Netanyahu “strongly adheres to the principle of maintaining an IDF physical presence in the Philadelphia Corridor.”

Last month, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant informed White House Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk that Israel might consider withdrawing troops from the corridor as part of a hostage agreement.

Nevertheless, Gallant also stated, “A solution is required that will stop smuggling attempts and will cut off potential supply for Hamas, and will enable the withdrawal of IDF troops from the corridor, as part of a framework for the release of hostages.”

In a separate report from the Jerusalem Post indicated that IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Hertzl Halevi believes the buffer zone can be effectively monitored electronically without stationing troops there.

IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari stated on Thursday that the military has eliminated over 17,000 terror operatives in the Gaza Strip since the onset of the conflict.

At a press conference, Hagari stated that the IDF’s “significant fighting” and achievements have impaired Hamas’s capacity to regroup and recover. “We are determined to continue this,” he added.

On Thursday morning, the IDF reported that in the last day, operations had resulted in the deaths of dozens of gunmen and the destruction of multiple sites linked to Hamas and other terror groups. The military detailed that over 30 Hamas locations, including booby-trapped buildings, tunnels, and weapon depots, were targeted in airstrikes throughout Gaza.