Israel obliterates 130 Hamas tunnels as its grip on Gaza City tightens

Israel: Police rescue young girls after Hamas attack

Israel has obliterated 130 tunnels crafted by Hamas since the war began last month as its grip on Gaza City tightened.

That’s according to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) which said its combat engineers were making huge inroads into securing the “expansion” of its operation in Gaza.

In a statement on Wednesday, IDF said it was “destroying the enemy’s weapons and are locating, exposing and detonating tunnel shafts”.

It continued: “With the expansion of the ground operation in the Gaza Strip, the soldiers are thwarting Hamas’ terrorist infrastructure,” the IDF said in a press release on Wednesday.”

The statement noted that as part of its “ground forces’ activity in the Gaza Strip, IDF soldiers are currently working to expose and destroy Hamas’ tunnels”.

As a result, since the war began on October 7, 130 tunnels have been destroyed.

It added that Hamas’ “preparation for a prolonged stay in the tunnels can be seen based on water and oxygen means found in the tunnels”.

Among the tunnels hit included one near a United Nations Relief and Works Agency-sponsored school in the Beit Hanoun area of northern Gaza.

Don’t miss…
Macron blasted for ‘international overkill’ amid Gaza peace forum[LATEST]
Israel and US wipe out a dozen Iran-backed terrorists with multiple airstrikes[INSIGHT]
Palestine protesters shut down weapons HQ amid fears of ramp up[ANALYSIS]

It comes as Malaysia vowed to maintain its ties with Hamas, despite pressure for it to “punish the group as a terrorist organization”.

The country’s prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, issued the response after he was pressed on the potential economic repercussions of supporting Israel’s opposition in the war.

The US has been among the most vocal, demanding Malaysia cut ties with Hamas, with demands being made by Washington.

Anwar said he “will not accept any threats” after the Hamas International Financing Prevention Act was passed in the House of Representatives before final approval in the Senate.

• Support fearless journalism
• Read The Daily Express online, advert free
• Get super-fast page loading

He continued: “This action is unilateral and not valid because we as members of the United Nations only recognize decisions made by the UN Security Council.”

Malaysia – a Muslim-majority nation – has a similar stance to the likes of Indonesia and other Middle Eastern countries in backing Palestine for decades.

Anwar concluded at a rally: “Malaysia is a fiercely independent country. We decide what is right.

“We want the Arabs, Palestinians and people of Gaza to be treated as human beings. Nothing more, nothing less.”

Source: Read Full Article