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HAMAS CONTINUES TUNNELS IN GAZA
TEL AVIV — The Israeli military has assessed that Hamas was
continuing to construct weapons and smuggling tunnels in the Gaza Strip.
Officials said the military has acquired evidence that Hamas and its
allies were building tunnels meant to attack Israel. They said the tunnels
spanned from the southern and northern Gaza Strip to Israel.
"Hamas has perfected the skill of quickly constructing tunnels with help
from Iran and Hizbullah," an official said.
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The military has determined that Hamas was constructing a tunnel toward
the Erez border terminal along the northern Gaza Strip. The terminal
contains an Israeli military and police base.
Officials said Hamas has perfected the use of tunnels to destroy Israeli
military installations. They said Hamas was capable of stuffing a tunnel
with 500 kilograms of explosives to ensure the demolition of Israeli
outposts.
"We believe that Hamas's aim is to dig a tunnel that would
reach one of the Israeli bases along the Gaza border," the official said.
Hamas has also demonstrated enhanced anti-tank capabilities in recent
battles with Israel. On June 27, Hamas fired rocket-propelled grenades that
struck an Israel Army Merkava Mk-4 main battle tank. The MBT was said to
have been destroyed and two crew members were injured.
This was the first time Palestinians destroyed a Merkava Mk-4 with RPGs.
The tank was designed to withstand RPG strikes.
"The threats have become more complex," Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen.
Gabi Ashkenazi said on Thursday. "The horizon contains a range of
challenges."
