Major Hamas Tunnel Discovered in Gaza with Remains of Lt. Goldin

Post by : Raina Nasser

In a significant development, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have discovered a substantial Hamas tunnel in the Gaza Strip, where the remains of Lieutenant Hadar Goldin lay hidden for several years. The lieutenant was killed during a 2014 ambush amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. Earlier this month, his family and the nation received his remains after years of uncertainty and sorrow.

A video shared by the IDF highlighted the tunnel, located beneath the densely populated Rafah area, which passes through a United Nations relief compound, mosques, healthcare facilities, and daycares. This discovery emphasizes the challenging environment in which Hamas operates. As stated by the military, the tunnel served as a site for Hamas leaders to stockpile weapons, plan assaults, and remain concealed for extended durations.

Stretching over 7 kilometers and reaching depths of 25 meters, the tunnel housed 80 distinct rooms, many designated as command posts for senior Hamas figures, including Muhammad Shabana, who died alongside Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar in May 2025. This tunnel was unearthed by Israel’s elite Yahalom combat engineering unit in conjunction with the Shayetet 13 naval commando unit.

Additionally, in a separate operation, the IDF apprehended Marwan Al-Hams, a Hamas operative connected to Goldin’s death, suspected of knowing the burial location within the “White-Crowned” tunnel in Rafah. The recuperation of Goldin’s remains in July 2025 was the outcome of confidential operations conducted over a six-month timeframe, aimed at ensuring his return for a proper burial in Israel.

This tunnel discovery arises amid ongoing conflict in Gaza, which ignited in October 2023 when militants, led by Hamas, launched assaults on southern Israel, claiming 1,200 lives, predominantly civilians, and resulting in the abduction of 251 hostages. In retaliation, Israeli military engagements led to over 69,000 Palestinian fatalities, mostly among civilians, per Gaza health authorities.

Recent airstrikes in Khan Younis and surrounding areas have left five people dead and 18 injured. An assault on a residence in Bani Suhaila resulted in the death of three individuals, including an infant, and injuring 15 more. Both Israel and Hamas have leveled accusations against each other for breaching a fragile truce that has lasted nearly six weeks, causing tensions to heighten.

The IDF maintains that their ongoing efforts to uncover tunnels and recover soldiers like Lieutenant Goldin are crucial for the safety of Israeli civilians and to avert future aggressions. This 7-kilometer tunnel discovery illustrates the extent to which Hamas will go to conceal their operations underground, frequently in heavily populated regions, highlighting the persistent dangers within the Gaza Strip.

Experts assert that such tunnels not only have military significance but also present grave risks to civilian populations residing above them. The IDF’s unearthing of this tunnel and their subsequent operations signify the necessity of overseeing and neutralizing such threats in volatile regions.