Israeli forces have discovered a kilometer-long, booby-trapped tunnel where Hamas is believed to have held around 20 hostages.
At the end of the tunnel were narrow cells where prisoners were held – five narrow rooms behind metal bars.
Toilets, mattresses and even drawings of the child hostage Emilia Aloni, who was released in November, were found, said military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari.
“After walking about a kilometer through the tunnel, at a depth of about 20 meters underground, the soldiers found a central chamber where, to our knowledge, they spent most of their time, according to hostages returning from Gaza,” said he .
The military released photos from the underground labyrinth and said it had brought in journalists to document the tunnel before its destruction to “show the world evidence that must not be forgotten.”
“Hamas has committed and continues to commit crimes against humanity by detaining innocent people, children, women, men, some sick and very old people in harsh and inhumane conditions,” Hagari said.
The tunnel entrance was reportedly discovered at the home of a Hamas member in the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis, where Israel has had its fighting focus in recent weeks.
“The soldiers entered the tunnel where they encountered terrorists and engaged in a battle that ended with the destruction of the terrorists,” the spokesman said.
The tunnel entrance was located in the home of a Hamas member in the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Younis
Toilets, mattresses and even drawings from a child hostage released in November were found
Israeli forces have discovered a kilometer-long, booby-trapped tunnel where Hamas is believed to have held around 20 hostages.
The pictures recovered in the tunnels are said to have been drawn by Emilia Aloni, here with her mother Danielle
“According to the witness statements, about 20 hostages were held in this tunnel at different times in harsh conditions with no daylight, in dense air with little oxygen and terrible humidity that makes breathing difficult.
“Some of them were released about 50 days ago, others are still being held in Gaza and possibly in even harsher conditions, including very old people who need medicine and assistance,” Hagari added.
The Hamas-run Health Ministry claimed that more than 25,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the conflict began.
America is pushing for further negotiations between Israel and Hamas after the families of hostages held in Gaza traveled to Washington with the Chron to demand their release.
The US, Egypt and Qatar are putting pressure on both sides to negotiate terms and it is claimed that Israel and Hamas are ready to take part in talks in Cairo.
US President Joe Biden said on Friday he had spoken with Netanyahu about possible solutions to creating an independent Palestinian state and suggested one path could include a non-militarized government.
“There are different types of two-state solutions,” he said.
“There are a number of countries that are members of the United Nations and … don't have their own armed forces,” Biden told reporters after an event at the White House.
But a senior Hamas official dismissed Biden's comments on Saturday, calling him complicit in the “genocide” of the Palestinians.
This came after families of female hostages traveled to the US capital to urge American politicians to advocate for their release.
They gave copies of a Chron article about the hostages' nightmare to key leaders, including Senate leader Chuck Schumer, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and Democrat Katherine Clark.
The military released photos from the underground labyrinth and said it had brought in journalists to document the tunnel before its destruction
At the end of the tunnel were narrow cells where prisoners were held – five narrow rooms behind metal bars
Congresswoman Schakowsky told the Chron after accepting the framed clipping: “We absolutely cannot forget the 13 women – most of them teenage girls – who are still being held hostage.” Time is of the essence Meaning.
“I am doing everything in my power to ensure that bringing all hostages home safely remains a priority.”
In a statement Saturday, Netanyahu also rejected Biden's comments on Palestinian statehood after the end of the war against Hamas in Gaza.
“In his conversation with President Biden, Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated his policy that after the destruction of Hamas, Israel must maintain security control over Gaza to ensure that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel, a requirement that contradicts the demand for Palestinian sovereignty. Netanyahu's office said this in a statement released on Saturday.
In Sunday's statement, Netanyahu reiterated that he would insist on “full Israeli security control over the entire area west of Jordan.”
Netanyahu said he had steadfastly withstood “international and internal pressure” to change that position and would continue to do so.