Israeli army destroys Hamas attack tunnel

The Israeli military destroyed a Gaza attack tunnel built by Hamas militants to penetrate Israeli territory, the army reported.

Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus, a military spokesman, said yesterday the new Hamas tunnel was connected to a network dug in the northern Gaza Strip and entered Israel near the Israeli community of Nahal Oz. It’s the fifth such Hamas tunnel Israel has destroyed in as many months.

Lt. Col. Conricus said the tunnel was adjacent to the site of recent mass protests, which Israel says Hamas is using as a cover for attacks.

He said Hamas began building the tunnel following the 2014 war. Israel has placed a high priority on halting the tunnel threat since Hamas infiltrated Israel during the war.

In two weeks of protests, 28 Palestinians have been killed and more than 1,500 wounded by Israeli fire. Gaza’s dire living conditions are among the concerns of the territory’s two million residents.