On Sunday, the Israeli army published video footage of a tunnel in the city of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, where it said Hamas held about 20 hostages at different times.
The Israeli army said the tunnel is located in the center of Khan Yunis and extends about 830 meters (0.51 miles) and is 20 meters (66 feet) deep.
There were booby traps, explosives and various obstacles inside the tunnel, according to the Israeli army, which said it encountered and killed several Hamas activists as they entered the tunnel.
The Israeli military did not find any hostages in the tunnel, but said, based on the testimonies of former hostages and DNA evidence, that about 20 hostages were held there at different times, some of whom were released while others remained detained in Gaza.
Videos published by the Israeli army show long tunnels, some of which lead to rooms with mattresses, blankets and food wrappers scattered on the floor, and to kitchen and bathroom areas.
The group also released photos of a pair of children’s drawings. Five-year-old former hostage Emilia Aloni drew the pictures, the Israeli military said Aloni’s family told them.
Aloni and her mother were released in November during a short truce between Hamas and Israel to allow the exchange of Palestinian hostages and prisoners in Israeli prisons. More than 100 hostages were released during the truce.
Israel estimates that 132 hostages from the October 7, 2023 attacks remain in Gaza – 25 of whom are believed to be dead.
