A network of underground tunnels in the center of Gaza City, which led to the homes of senior Hamas figures, has been identified by the Israeli army. The underground network was uncovered during an operation in recent days, Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, a spokesman for the Israeli Armed Forces (IDF), announced today..

Accessible by spiral staircases and an elevator that descended up to 20 meters, the tunnels were electrified and had plumbing, surveillance cameras and armored doors, according to images released by the IDF spokesman. Lt. Col. Lerner described the complex as the “power center” of Hamas’ political and military wing.

The Reuters news agency emphasizes that it is unable to verify the specific reports.

The tunnels were allegedly used by senior Hamas figures – including Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniya and Mohammed Deif – to run operations and move in secret in the heart of Gaza City, according to the Israeli armed forces.

The Israeli military accuses Hamas of using civilians as “human shields”, which the Palestinian Islamist movement that controls the Gaza Strip rejects.

Sinuar and Deif are considered to be the “masterminds” of the October 7 attacks in Israel, which claimed the lives of approximately 1,200 people. Since then, Israeli military airstrikes and ground operations in the Gaza Strip have killed approximately 20,000 Palestinians and forced most of the 2.3 million residents from their homes.

Israel’s goal is to dismantle Hamas and free the abductees still being held hostage in the Gaza Strip. Although the Israeli army controls several areas of the Palestinian enclave, the traces of Hamas leaders are ignored.

Hamas claims to have created a network of underground tunnels hundreds of kilometers long. Some of them reach a depth of even 80 meters, while one of the freed hostages likened the underground network to a “spider web”.