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| ‘Most Advanced’ Gaza-Israel Tunnel Is Found | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| JERUSALEM — The Israeli military announced on Friday that it had uncovered a sophisticated tunnel that stretched hundreds of yards into its territory from the Gaza Strip and could have been used to attack or kidnap Israelis. | JERUSALEM — The Israeli military announced on Friday that it had uncovered a sophisticated tunnel that stretched hundreds of yards into its territory from the Gaza Strip and could have been used to attack or kidnap Israelis. |
| Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, a military spokesman, told reporters that fresh footprints and tools found inside the tunnel from southern Gaza suggested it had been worked on even “in the last few days,” and that its design, with many offshoots, made it “the most advanced tunnel that we’ve exposed.” Though the tunnel did not reach an Israeli town or village, Colonel Lerner said, “it wasn’t that far — a quick sprint and you could attack a community.” | Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, a military spokesman, told reporters that fresh footprints and tools found inside the tunnel from southern Gaza suggested it had been worked on even “in the last few days,” and that its design, with many offshoots, made it “the most advanced tunnel that we’ve exposed.” Though the tunnel did not reach an Israeli town or village, Colonel Lerner said, “it wasn’t that far — a quick sprint and you could attack a community.” |
| Hamas, the militant Palestinian faction that controls the Gaza Strip, played down the significance of the tunnel — and of Israel’s intelligence feat in finding it. A spokesman for its military wing said the tunnel had been exposed by bad weather, which also caused parts of it to collapse. | Hamas, the militant Palestinian faction that controls the Gaza Strip, played down the significance of the tunnel — and of Israel’s intelligence feat in finding it. A spokesman for its military wing said the tunnel had been exposed by bad weather, which also caused parts of it to collapse. |
| “This tunnel was unsuitable for use,” said the spokesman, who was identified only as Abu Obaida. “This is not a new tunnel, and it was uncovered due to the rainstorm last week. The discovery was not an intelligence achievement, as the enemy tries to promote.” | “This tunnel was unsuitable for use,” said the spokesman, who was identified only as Abu Obaida. “This is not a new tunnel, and it was uncovered due to the rainstorm last week. The discovery was not an intelligence achievement, as the enemy tries to promote.” |
| The Israel Defense Forces found three similar tunnels under the Gaza border fence last year, but Colonel Lerner described the recently discovered one as “the most substantial.” In 2006, Palestinian militants used a tunnel to enter Israel, kill two soldiers and kidnap a third, Gilad Shalit, who was held for five years. | The Israel Defense Forces found three similar tunnels under the Gaza border fence last year, but Colonel Lerner described the recently discovered one as “the most substantial.” In 2006, Palestinian militants used a tunnel to enter Israel, kill two soldiers and kidnap a third, Gilad Shalit, who was held for five years. |
| Though 2013 was the quietest year in a decade between Israel and Gaza, tensions have been escalating in recent months. Last week, Islamic Jihad and smaller militant Palestinian groups fired about 100 rockets into southern Israel over three days, prompting several rounds of Israeli airstrikes. | Though 2013 was the quietest year in a decade between Israel and Gaza, tensions have been escalating in recent months. Last week, Islamic Jihad and smaller militant Palestinian groups fired about 100 rockets into southern Israel over three days, prompting several rounds of Israeli airstrikes. |
| The Islamic Jihad assault came in retaliation for Israel’s killing of three of its members who had shot a mortar at Israeli soldiers working on the Gaza side of the fence. This month, Israel seized a commercial ship with what it described as an Iranian shipment of advanced weapons headed to Gaza. | The Islamic Jihad assault came in retaliation for Israel’s killing of three of its members who had shot a mortar at Israeli soldiers working on the Gaza side of the fence. This month, Israel seized a commercial ship with what it described as an Iranian shipment of advanced weapons headed to Gaza. |
| On Friday afternoon, Israeli soldiers shot and wounded two Palestinian men who the military said were trying to climb the fence separating northern Gaza from Israel. Israeli troops have killed two Palestinians and injured more than 60 so far this year during Friday protests against Israel’s restrictions on farming in the so-called buffer zone inside the Gaza fence. | On Friday afternoon, Israeli soldiers shot and wounded two Palestinian men who the military said were trying to climb the fence separating northern Gaza from Israel. Israeli troops have killed two Palestinians and injured more than 60 so far this year during Friday protests against Israel’s restrictions on farming in the so-called buffer zone inside the Gaza fence. |
| When the last tunnel was discovered, in October, Israel barred construction materials from passing through its Kerem Shalom crossing for anything other than selected international aid projects. A spokesman for the Israeli agency responsible for the crossing did not return messages on Friday. | When the last tunnel was discovered, in October, Israel barred construction materials from passing through its Kerem Shalom crossing for anything other than selected international aid projects. A spokesman for the Israeli agency responsible for the crossing did not return messages on Friday. |
| Colonel Lerner said that the parts of the recently discovered tunnel that Israel had so far examined were six to eight yards deep, and made with “advanced concrete slabs,” probably over many months. He said the tunnel looked like an underground subway passage, and that generators and pickaxes were also found inside. | Colonel Lerner said that the parts of the recently discovered tunnel that Israel had so far examined were six to eight yards deep, and made with “advanced concrete slabs,” probably over many months. He said the tunnel looked like an underground subway passage, and that generators and pickaxes were also found inside. |
| “Hamas has vast experience of utilizing these types of things,” Colonel Lerner said, “whether it’s for infiltration, detonation or abduction.” | “Hamas has vast experience of utilizing these types of things,” Colonel Lerner said, “whether it’s for infiltration, detonation or abduction.” |