Israel says it has destroyed more than 60 miles of a vast Hamas tunnel network called the 'Metro'
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Ryan Pickrell
May 21, 2021, 02:32 IST
Fire and smoke rise above buildings in Gaza City after Israeli strikes, May 18, 2021.Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The Israeli military says it has destroyed over 60 miles of Hamas tunnels in Gaza.
These tunnels have been used to move troops, weapons, and other supplies as the militants fight.
Israel has launched a number of tunnel-clearing operations over the years, some using ground troops.
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The Israeli military says that in recent days it has destroyed over 60 miles of a vast tunnel network that is nicknamed the "Metro" and used by Palestinian militants.
"The tunnels were originally used by Hamas operatives to hide after firing rockets at Israel," the IDF continued, explaining that "Hamas connected its smaller tunnels until they became a complex underground system allowing terrorists to hide, train, and transport weapons."
As part of Operation Guardian of the Walls, which started after Hamas and other Palestinian militants began firing rockets at Israel earlier this month, Israeli fighter jets supported by ground forces, like tanks and artillery, have destroyed miles and miles of the "terror tunnels," as the IDF calls them.
Within the subterranean system, commanders can move troops and weapons and direct attacks against Israel.
Some of the tunnels are quite shallow, at no more than 15 feet deep, while others are as deep as 90 feet, making them much harder to destroy, according to The Times of London, citing Israeli military personnel.
Strikes against these tunnels have continued since that first day and have killed dozens of Hamas combatants, including commanders, according to the Israeli military.
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The IDF has released a video featuring animated maps and live video of its strike operations.
That war saw 2,251 Palestinians, more than half of whom were civilians, die along with more than 70 Israelis, according to a UN report. Another 11,231 Palestinians and about 1,600 Israelis suffered injures as a "tragic result of the hostilities."
In the latest fight, international pressure has been mounting on both sides to move toward a ceasefire as the death toll, which is already in the hundreds, rises.
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In a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, President Joe Biden said that he "expected a significant de-escalation" and a move forward "on the path to a ceasefire," according to a White House readout of the call.
In a later statement, Netanyahu said that while he appreciates "the support of the American president," but he is "determined to continue this operation until its aim is met," with the aim being the return of "calm and security" to Israel.
The Associated Press reported Thursday afternoon, citing unspecified Israeli media, that the Israeli prime minister's security cabinet has approved a unilateral ceasefire. And Reuters, citing a Hamas official, reported that a ceasefire is expected Friday afternoon.
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