WATCH: IDF takes footage of Gaza tunnel stretching into Israel
The tunnel is 30 meters deep, and was likely dug after the 2014 Operation Protective Edge, according to IDF assessments, though this has not been fully verified.
By YAAKOV LAPPINUpdated: APRIL 18, 2016 23:24IDF discovers Gaza tunnels
The IDF detected a deep Hamas cross-border tunnel in recent days, stretching from the southern Gaza Strip into Israel. The discovery of the tunnel was kept under a media ban until Monday morning.Video of the tunnel was released to the media Monday afternoon and documents the structure's contours. The tunnel is 30 meters deep, and was likely dug after the 2014 Operation Protective Edge, according to IDF assessments, though this has not been fully verified.A senior security source said a "systematic, intelligence-based, technological, engineering, and operational" approach resulted in the finding of the tunnel. "We have to turn this event, of finding a tunnel, into a technique, and find more tunnels," he added.Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-Moon on Monday released a statement condemning the "attack tunnels" upon the IDF's discovery. "I am extremely concerned by today’s announcement on the uncovering of a tunnel crossing from Gaza into Israel – the first such discovery since the 2014 Gaza conflict," the UN chief said."I strongly condemn the construction of attack tunnels as dangerous and provocative moves that not only threaten the lives of Israelis and Palestinians, but also undermine efforts to rebuild Gaza. Further, three rockets were fired from Gaza on 14 April towards Israel, all of which landed short of Israel. No injuries were reported.""I call upon all parties to refrain from any actions that could lead to renewed conflict in Gaza," he added.