Brief
IDF shows Hamas tunnel used for Oct. 7 kidnapping of 18 hostages
The tunnel, located near Kibbutz Nahal Oz, featured reinforced doors, living quarters and utilities, according to the IDF.
By Felo News Desk · Published
On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas militants seized 18 Israeli soldiers and civilians at Kibbutz Nahal Oz. Three years later, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) let journalists tour a 1.5‑mile underground tunnel near the kibbutz that the attackers used to launch the assault and to hide the hostages.
What happened
The tunnel, described by an IDF commander as a "city under a city," stretches about a mile and a half beneath the Gaza Strip. Its entrance sits in a leveled‑area near Nahal Oz, concealed by a screen door and a massive reinforced door meant to slow Israeli forces while allowing Hamas fighters to exit elsewhere. Inside, the tunnel includes a bathroom, air‑conditioned rooms, a working water system and sleeping quarters capable of housing “many thousands” of militants, the commander said.
What the reports add
The New York Post article notes that the tunnel’s stone hallway is narrow, with overhead wires supplying electricity, side‑wall lights and water pipes. It also mentions a sink found in the barracks area. The piece emphasizes that the tunnel was used to kidnap the 18 hostages after Hamas entered Nahal Oz.
What was said
Benjamin Weinthal, reporting for the New York Post, quoted an IDF commander who said, “It is hard to imagine, but it [the tunnel] is all connected and goes back to Gaza City.” The commander added that “many thousands [of Hamas terrorists] could live in the tunnels.”
How it came about
The tunnel was uncovered less than half a mile from Nahal Oz during ongoing Israeli operations aimed at dismantling Hamas infrastructure. Earlier Felo coverage linked related Israeli actions, such as the Sept. 26 strike that killed Hamas commander Ibrahim Fawzi Ismail Mohsen and the Sept. 25 operation that broke a billion‑dollar Hamas financing network.
Key facts
- The tunnel is about 1.5 miles long and located near Kibbutz Nahal Oz. (nypost.com)
- It was used by Hamas to kidnap 18 Israeli soldiers and civilians on Oct. 7, 2023. (nypost.com)
- The tunnel includes reinforced doors, a bathroom, air‑conditioned rooms, a water system and sleeping quarters. (nypost.com)
- An IDF commander said the tunnel network connects back to Gaza City and could house thousands of militants. (nypost.com)
Sources
- [1] nypost.com — originally reported as “Inside the Gaza terror tunnel Hamas used to launch one of the bloodiest Oct. 7 slaughters”
