Over the last two weeks, Hamas or its Palestinian militia proxies have
been conducting nearly daily attacks on Israel Army units along the Gaza
border.
Meanwhile, Israel has determined that Hamas was maintaining a secret
tunnel network in the West Bank.
Military sources said Hamas oversaw the construction of tunnels and
underground lairs near several West Bank cities. They cited Bethlehem,
Hebron, Nablus, Ramallah and Tulkarm.
"These tunnels are used for weapons storage and training, and some of
them are located near strategic Palestinian Authority facilities," a
military source said.
In August 2009, the Israel Army discovered a network of tunnels near
Hebron. The sources said Hamas maintained weapons caches and training
facilities in caves in the hills between Bethlehem and Hebron.
The network was said to have been the largest Hamas facility in the West
Bank. Over the last two years, the Israel Army and PA found tunnels in
Hebron and Nablus.
In Hebron, the army discovered a 150-meter tunnel filled with
explosives. The tunnel began in Hebron and moved toward the town of
Tarqumiya.