Israel uncovers Hamas’ ‘lifeline’ tunnels from Rafah across border into Egypt & seizes Gaza’s key ‘Philadelphi Corridor’

ISRAEL claims to have uncovered a network of Hamas’ “lifeline” tunnels stretching from southern Gaza into Egypt.

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have seized control of the Philadelphi Corridor – and now have full rule over Gaza’s entire land border.

Rex

Israeli tanks bulldoze into Rafah in Southern Gaza[/caption]

AP

The IDF claims to have uncovered a row of Hamas tunnels in Rafah[/caption]

Getty

Gaza has been almost completely destroyed after more than seven months of war[/caption]

The IDF shared a video purporting to show images of the discovered tunnels near Egypt

The Philadelphi buffer zone stretches almost nine miles along the full southern edge of Rafah – which sits above Egypt.

IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said they uncovered 20 tunnels being used by Hamas to smuggle weapons into the besieged strip, along the corridor.

Hagari said on Wednesday: “In recent days, IDF troops established operational control of the Philadelphi Corridor, on the border between Egypt and Rafah.”

He claimed the 100m-wide stretch operated as a “lifeline” for Hamas which they used to “regularly smuggle weapons into the Gaza Strip”.

The IDF later posted a video on X showing a satellite image of Gaza and still pictures of the alleged tunnel network.

They said troops had uncovered a “1.5km long terrorist tunnel route”, containing “dozens of anti-tank missiles and weapons” which they “dismantled”.

Egyptian media soon reported denials of the Israeli claims – from sources who said Netanyahu’s army is trying to justify its onslaught in Rafah.

Al-Qahera News quoted a “high-level” Egyptian source who accused Israel of “using these allegations to justify continuing the operation on the Palestinian city of Rafah and prolonging the war for political purposes”.

Tensions between the country’s are running high after more than seven months of war on Egypt’s doorstep.

Israel took control of the Rafah border crossing three weeks ago as they vowed to invade the refugee area and weed out Hamas.

It meant any aid that was being taken into the war-torn enclave was stopped – and no one has been able to evacuate.

Just three days ago Israeli and Egyptian troops exchanged fire on their shared border, not far from the cross, and an Egyptian soldier died.

Egypt has worked as a mediator in talks between Hamas and Israel in efforts to broker a ceasefire deal.

It has long advocated for Palestine and has condemned the killing of tens of thousands of innocent civilians there since October last year.

Fire raged inside a Palestinian refugee camp on the weekend after an IDF strike

Palestinians pick through the rubble for food after a deadly Israeli strike on Sunday

RAFAH STRIKES

An Israeli strike hit a Palestinian refugee camp on Sunday, killing 45 people including women and small children.

Netanyahu’s government faced swift and fierce criticism for the lethal blow, which sparked a huge blaze in an area of tens and shelters where Gazans had been told they were safe to evacuate to.

Some were burned alive in their tents while hundreds more were wounded.

Horrific images of those injured picking through the rubble for the remains of their relatives swept across the world.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday admitted it was “a tragic accident” as the EU warned it could impose economic sanctions.

Israeli forces later claimed that Hamas ammunition near to the refugee camp was actually responsible for the strike.

And Daniel Hagari argued: “Our munition alone could not have ignited a fire of this size”.

He claimed the army gathered “precise intelligence” before the strike, including aerial surveillance, as part of an effort to “minimise civilian harm”.

Two members of the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) were reportedly killed in the Tal al-Sultan area of Rafah in an Israeli strike yesterday.

PRCS and the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said their ambulance was hit while on the way to administer aid and evacuate dead Palestinians in the area.

According to witnesses, first responders and hospital officials – a further 37 Gazans were killed in Israeli strikes on Tuesday and Wednesday this week.

They hit the same area where the deadly fire struck in Tel Sultan on Sunday, Sky reports.

Despite global cries for a ceasefire, Israel’s national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi has said the war will continue on until at least the end of 2024.

Smoke rises after an Israeli strike in southern Gaza, near Rafah