As many as 80 Hamas fighters were killed and buried in Gaza’s terror tunnels after Israel duped them into thinking a ground invasion was underway last week.
Search teams are still digging the fighters our of the blown-up underground system dubbed the “Gaza Metro” which has been battered by hundreds of airstrikes.
The Hamas leadership was hoodwinked into sending a large fighting force underground when Israel’s defence force tweeted an air and ground operation was underway.
Believing they were coming under attack from Israeli ground troops the heavily-armed fighters flooded the tunnels so they could attack the invading force.
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(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
But as soon as they ran into the sub-surface system Israel launched huge airstrikes, smashing the tunnels with bunker -buster bombs and other blasts.
Moments after the Israeli tweet was sent it was then removed, in a massive deception mission that gathered Hamas fighters in large numbers so they could be attacked.
Yesterday (Monday) Palestinian search teams inside Gaza were still trying to reach the remains of the fighters deep underground as locals counted the cost of the 11 day missile exchanges.
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(Image: MOHAMMED SABER/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
In Israel a source told the Daily Mirror: “It is now believed around 80
were killed, many of which are still buried deep underground.
“At the time it was believed the deception operation had targeted as many as 200 but it seems 80 is the latest count, from intelligence gathered on Gaza.”
(Image: MOHAMMED SABER/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
Monday saw day four of a ceasefire between Gaza’s Hamas militant and Israel holding amid warnings from Israel that it would retaliate with force if the group opens fire.
At least 248 people, including more than 100 women and children, were killed in Gaza, according to its health ministry.
Israel has said it killed at least 225 militants during the fighting.
(Image: NurPhoto/PA Images)
Hamas has not given casualty figures for fighters but it is also believed as many as 12 senior Hamas commanders were killed in the airstrikes.
Hussan Abu Harbeed, a veteran Islamic Jihad commander was also killed in the strikes.
In Israel 12 people, including two children, were killed, its medical service says.
(Image: Glen Minikin)
The clean-up operation inside Gaza will cost hundreds of millions of pounds, much of it coming from Egypt and and other donations, it is believed.
Egypt is said already to have promised at least £350 million for redevelopment of Gaza.
US President Joe Biden has insisted the only route to prolonged peace between Israel and Palestinians is a “two state solution.”
Much of the Palestinian strip has been destroyed in the strikes.