KIBBUTZ EIN HASHLOSHA, Israel // For the first time, the Israeli army on Friday gave foreign media access to a part of the network of tunnels running under Gaza.
Israel has said uncovering and destroying an apparently sophisticated network of tunnels is a primary goal of the assault it unleashed on July 8 in Gaza, particularly its ground invasion.
"Finding these tunnels is like a detective trying to solve a murder with a number of clues. There are several pieces to the puzzle, including intelligence and technology," said Lieutenant Colonel "Max" of the army engineers.
Max, who declined to give his family name, said the Israeli end of the tunnel near the Israeli kibbutz of Nir-Am was discovered two months ago.
But its entrance in Khan Yunis was uncovered this week during the Israeli ground operation launched on July 17.
The tunnel is 1.75 metres high and over 70 centimetres across, with its sides reinforced by closely-fitted concrete blocks and ceiling inlaid with arched concrete plates.
Max said 26,000 components were used in the construction of the tunnel, estimating it must have cost around one million dollars to build.
Along one wall is a rack to string electric cables, while a metal dual track runs on the floor, similar to inside a mine shaft.
Max said the track was used to remove earth during construction and could also have been designed to ferry equipment and arms into Israel.
In part of the tunnel, a narrow niche has been carved out to store equipment and weapons.
The Israeli army is planning to completely destroy the tunnel within days using explosives, but the process is dangerous, Max said.
"You excavate through one of the tunnel walls and it can collapse," he said.
"Within the tunnel itself there can be booby traps, within and just around the entrance there can be booby traps."
So far, the army has found 30 tunnels, and over 100 shafts leading into them.
Max said the army tries to destroy the tunnels it finds from both ends.
"Each tunnel takes a couple of days for us to deal with it."
* Agence France-Presse
Israeli military give media tour of Gaza tunnels
But its entrance in Khan Yunis was uncovered this week during the Israeli ground operation launched on July 17.
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