Gaza-Egypt border: Israel razes 50 tunnels

Tel Aviv [Israel]: During the past month, Israeli combat engineers have destroyed approximately 50 Hamas tunnel routes in the area of the Egypt-Gaza border, the Israel Defense Forces said on Thursday.

Ceasefire Negotiations Resume Amid Tunnel Destruction

The announcement came as Israeli and Arab leaders were due to resume ceasefire negotiations in Qatar. The tunnels were all in the Philadelphi corridor, a buffer zone that runs the length of the 14-km Gaza-Egypt border.

Corridor: Key to Preventing Smuggling

The Philadelphi corridor was created in 2006 to prevent weapons smuggling after Israel disengaged from the Strip. Hamas violently seized control of Gaza from the Palestinian Authority the following year.

Massive Tunnel Destroyed by Elite IDF Unit

On August 4, soldiers from the IDF's elite Yahalom combat engineering unit destroyed a three-meter-tall smuggling tunnel leading into Egypt that was large enough to drive vehicles through.

Preventing Hamas Re-armament and Hostage Escapes

Securing the Philadelphi corridor and destroying smuggling tunnels there is a critical goal to prevent Hamas from rearming and to curtail its leaders from escaping into the Sinai with Israeli hostages.

Hamas's Deadly Attacks and Hostage Crisis

At least 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas's attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 111 remaining hostages, 39 have been declared dead.

(With ANI inputs)