Key takeaways:
- The Israeli military has discovered a 2.5 mile long tunnel in the Gaza Strip, wide enough for cars to pass through.
- The tunnel is believed to have been used by Hamas militants to transport vehicles, militants, and supplies in preparation for the Oct. 7 assault.
- The discovery of the tunnel has raised questions about how Israeli surveillance missed such conspicuous preparations, and the Israeli military is continuing to investigate the tunnel and its purpose.
The Israeli military announced on Sunday that they have discovered a large tunnel shaft in the Gaza Strip, close to the Erez crossing and a nearby Israeli military base. The tunnel is 2.5 miles long and wide enough for cars to pass through, linking up with a sprawling tunnel network across Gaza. This is the largest and longest tunnel Israeli forces have found so far.
The tunnel is believed to have been used by Hamas militants to transport vehicles, militants, and supplies in preparation for the Oct. 7 assault. This discovery has raised questions about how Israeli surveillance missed such conspicuous preparations.
The news of the tunnel comes as the Israeli government faces calls for a cease-fire from some of its closest European allies, after a series of shootings, including the mistaken killing of three Israeli hostages, has fueled global concerns about the conduct of the 10-week-old war in Gaza.
Washington is expressing growing unease with civilian casualties even as it provides vital military and diplomatic support. The Israeli military is continuing to investigate the tunnel and its purpose, and it is unclear how long it had been in use.
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