Categories: World

IDF reveals elaborate Hamas tunnel ‘confirmed to have held Israeli hostages’

close Video

Israel kills key Hezbollah commander in Lebanon

Fox News’ Alex Hogan on the latest from the war in Israel as a key Hezbollah commander is targeted and IDF continues to go after Hamas

Read this article for free! Plus get unlimited access to thousands of articles, videos and more with your free account! Please enter a valid email address. By entering your email, you are agreeing to Fox News Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. To access the content, check your email and follow the instructions provided.

The Israel Defense Forces revealed Thursday what it described as an elaborate Hamas tunnel in Gaza that has been “confirmed to have held Israeli hostages.” 

Israel’s military said, “Millions of shekels are estimated to have been invested in excavating the tunnel” underneath the southern city of Khan Younis “and equipping it with air ventilation systems, electrical supply and plumbing.” 

One million Israeli shekels are worth about $267,000. The IDF wrote in a post on X that the tunnel was found to be “connected to an extensive network beneath a civilian area.” 

A video released by the IDF purportedly shows soldiers walking through the tunnel, which has electrical wires leading down multiple staircases. In one room, a toilet and plumbing can be seen. 

US INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS WARN HEZBOLLAH MAY TARGET MAINLAND US DURING WAR IN ISRAEL: REPORT 

The IDF announced that “after exploring the tunnel it can be said that there were Israeli hostages in it,” without elaborating. 

Israel, as of early January, believes more than 130 hostages remain in captivity in the Gaza Strip since Hamas launched its war on Oct. 7. 

Khan Younis is the hometown of Hamas’ Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar, one of the top targets of Israel’s military.  

Israel has been publicly searching for Sinwar in southern Gaza for weeks, with reports suggesting he is somewhere in Hamas’ labyrinth of tunnels beneath Khan Younis. 

NETANYAHU CLARIFIES ISRAEL’S WAR GOAL IS NOT ‘PERMANENTLY OCCUPYING GAZA’ OR TO DISPLACE PALESTINIANS 

Two of the rooms the IDF says were found in the tunnel in Khan Younis. (IDF)

The IDF also said Thursday that fighting in Khan Younis is happening above and below ground. 

“So far, over 300 tunnel shafts have been exposed and dozens of tunnels have been destroyed,” it added. 

Both Hamas and Israel are currently engaged in negotiations over a potential second round of hostage exchanges.  

Israeli soldiers are seen walking through the tunnel in Khan Younis, one of many in the southern Gaza Strip city. (IDF)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP 

Hamas expressed interest in exchanging 40 Israeli hostages for 120 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons last week, but Israel rejected the deal. 

Fox News’ Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report. 

Greg Norman is a reporter at Fox News Digital.

Share

Recent Posts

Trump names his personal criminal defense attorney Todd Blanche as deputy attorney general

President-elect Donald Trump named his personal criminal defense attorney Todd Blanche as deputy attorney general.…

1 hour ago

Trump nominates former Rep. Doug Collins for secretary of Veterans Affairs

President-elect Trump announced on Thursday his intent to nominate former Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., to serve as…

1 hour ago

Trump names Dean John Sauer as US solicitor general

President-elect Trump announced Dean John Sauer as his pick for U.S. solicitor general. "John is…

1 hour ago

Woman told House committee Matt Gaetz had sex with her when she was 17: report

A woman reportedly told the House Ethics Committee that she had sexual relations with Rep.…

1 hour ago

Trump nominates former SEC chairman Jay Clayton as US attorney for Southern District of NY

President-elect Trump announced Thursday that he is nominating Jay Clayton to serve as U.S. attorney…

1 hour ago

India’s capital introduces stricter anti-pollution measures as toxic smog hides Taj Mahal

close Video Fox News Flash top headlines for November 14 Fox News Flash top headlines…

3 hours ago