The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Monday that Israeli forces had destroyed a cemetery in the Gaza Strip after discovering that Hamas terrorists had constructed an underground tunnel system.
According to the IDF, Israeli forces raided a tunnel system in the Bani Suheira area of Khan Yunis city in southern Gaza and found explosives, sliding doors and blast doors. The Israeli military said the terrorist was still inside and was killed.
According to the IDF, the tunnel contained the office of a Hamas commander, an operations room, and living quarters for Hamas leaders. The group said the tunnels were used to plan attacks against the military and the deadly October 7 attack on Israel.
The tunnel was part of a complex underground labyrinth, about 1 km long and 20 meters deep, the IDF said. Yahalom special technical forces destroyed the tunnel at the end of the investigation.
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According to satellite analysis by the Associated Press, the cemetery that was demolished appears to have been the Shuhada Bani Suheila cemetery. All that was left was a huge pit of rubble, filled with skeletons cut off by the blast.
Hamas terrorists launched a deadly attack on October 7, killing around 1,200 people (mostly civilians) in Israel and taking around 250 more hostage. During a week-long ceasefire in November, more than 100 hostages were exchanged for Palestinian prisoners.
Map provided by IDF. A tunnel system discovered in the Bani Suheila area in southern Gaza. (Israel Defense Forces)
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As Israel advances ground and air operations in Gaza, Hamas officials in the besieged enclave say more than 26,000 Palestinians have been killed.
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Since declaring war on Hamas on October 7, Israel has repeatedly accused the Islamic terror group of using Gaza’s civilian areas, including hospitals and holy sites, as cover for military operations.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
