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Israel uncovers another Gaza attack tunnel as tension continues
Israeli forces uncovered a second Gaza tunnel burrowing underneath the border within weeks, as fire was exchanged again yesterday between Israeli troops and Hamas.
Israeli engineering forces uncovered a 28 metre deep tunnel in the border zone, heading for the Eshkol region. A similar tunnel had been found last month. Maj. Gen. Eyal Zamir, head of the IDF’s Southern Command, declared the surrounding area a closed military zone. Shortly after yesterday’s discovery, Hamas and Islamic Jihad fired five mortar rounds at Israeli soldiers within a thirty minute period. Israel responded with tank fire, which was apparently responsible for the death of a 54-year-old woman in Gaza.
It was the most intense day of violence on the Gaza border since Operation Protective Edge in summer 2014. Mortars were fired on Israeli troops at the border working to locate and uncover underground tunnels, with Hamas openly rebuilding the subterranean tunnel network which was deployed to launch numerous attacks on Israeli targets during the 2014 conflict. Israel’s Air Force responded with two sorties which targeted Hamas infrastructure sites.
YNet reports that Qatar is mediating between Israel and Hamas in order to return calm. However, Israel’s Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon warned: “Terrorist elements in the Gaza Strip need to know that if they try to disrupt our lives, they will delivered a severe blow.” He added: “We will not tolerate a return to a routine of shooting and attempts to harm our civilians and soldiers.”
Israel’s security cabinet will meet this morning to discuss the situation.
Meanwhile, it was announced yesterday that Israel had arrested a Hamas operative, who revealed a wealth of information on the terror group’s tunnel network. Mohammad Atuna, 29, was arrested last month after crossing the border fence in possession of two knives. YNet reports that Atuna has been extensively involved in tunnel development and, under interrogation, revealed tunnel locations, their use of private homes, digging methods and gave up information on Hamas personnel and infrastructure.