Captives spill beans: Hamas tunnels in Gaza beyond the reach of Israeli forces

By Press TV Staff Writer

In the past week, since Farhan Qadi was released from captivity by the Hamas resistance movement in Gaza after 11 months, Israeli military officials have gone into overdrive, claiming credit for it.

His release has been hailed as a breakthrough amid the genocidal war against Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip, which has already claimed over 41,200 lives, most of them children and women.

However, Qadi himself has refuted these claims. He told the Israeli media outlet Ynet, following his release, that he was freed by the Gaza-based resistance movement “out of pity” rather than being rescued by the Israeli military, contrary to reports from various outlets citing Israeli military officials.

According to Ynet, Qadi spent 11 months in an underground tunnel in the coastal Palestinian territory, located approximately 700 meters from the site where six captives were recently killed in an Israeli airstrike, including an American citizen.

His account further reinforces the reality that Israeli forces, despite their tall and exaggerated claims, have yet to penetrate the complex network of underground tunnels in Gaza.

Adina Moshe, another Israeli captive who spent more than a month in these tunnels following the events of October 7, made a similar revelation in an interview with Israeli media earlier this week.

She said that Benjamin Netanyahu and his war-mongering ministers have been lying to Israeli settlers and the families of captives by claiming they have knowledge of the tunnels in Gaza.

After her release in the first captive swap deal in November last year, Israeli military personnel from Shin Bet interrogated Moshe about Hamas tunnels in the besieged territory.

She recounted how she was questioned about the appearance of the tunnels, how many branches they had, and their precise locations, as reported by Israel’s Channel 12.

According to Moshe, the tunnels where captives are held in Gaza form a "vast underground maze stretching across the territory,” suggesting their extensive presence.

She said it became evident to her that the Israeli forces were completely unaware of these tunnels.

The elderly woman was also asked to draw everything, from the interiors of the tunnels to the communication devices and wiring used by Hamas fighters inside the tunnels.

Dozens of Israeli captives have been killed due to indiscriminate Israeli bombings in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, leading to massive anti-regime protests in Tel Aviv.

Israeli warplanes have bombed hospitals, schools, universities, refugee camps, and even graveyards, claiming that Hamas tunnels were located beneath them. The claims have since been proven false.

According to reports, almost 80 percent of tunnels in Gaza remain intact and are usable despite the carpet-bombing campaign of the Israeli regime using US-supplied bombs.

Israel’s Channel 12 in June quoted an unnamed Israeli military source as saying that the Hamas tunnels in Gaza resemble a “spider’s web” and the regime forces are yet to understand or control them.

He admitted that Hamas resistance fighters have effectively used these tunnels to carry out surprise attacks against regime forces and target them from multiple locations without being detected.

Some of these tunnels are hundreds of meters deep and equipped with life-saving amenities. 

Last week, Israeli settlers and media held Netanyahu responsible for the deaths of six captives held by Hamas, accusing him of obstructing a ceasefire deal with the Palestinian resistance movement.

Gershon Baskin, a former Israeli negotiator, also took to his X page, formerly Twitter, to slam the Israeli premier for doing nothing to rescue captives even though Hamas is ready for the deal.

“Israel’s prime minister refuses to end the war and is ready to sacrifice all the hostages,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, Israeli Knesset member Israeli Knesset member Ohad Tal also took to X on Thursday, saying the Israeli army is “lying about decimating and declaring victory” over Hamas’ Rafah Brigade.

“I listen to the summaries from the security sources, and I have contact with various military sources, and I receive from them a completely different picture,” he wrote, adding that the numerical strength of Hamas in the southern Gaza city of Rafah remains intact despite the claims of the Israeli military.

Last week, Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, warned that captives held in Gaza would return to the occupied territories “in coffins” if the Israeli military continues its aggression.

The movement said “new instructions” have been given to those guarding the captives in case Israeli troops approach them, making it clear that responsibility lies with the occupation forces. 

“Netanyahu’s insistence on freeing the captives through military pressure instead of reaching a deal means they will go back to their families in coffins. Their families have to choose between receiving them dead or alive,” Abu Obeida, spokesman for the Al-Qassam Brigades, said on Monday.

“Netanyahu and the army are fully responsible for the death of the captives after they intentionally hindered any prisoners’ exchange deal.”

The death toll from Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza has surpassed 41,200, with 69 percent of the casualties being children and women, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir