IDF engineering forces have so far managed to identify around 90 tunnels of various types along the Philadelphi Corridor, as reported this morning (Sunday) by Israeli news site, Walla. The tunnels were discovered in the area between the closed Rafah crossing and the coastline. According to the report, some of the tunnels crossed into Israeli territory, some reached the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, while others were partially constructed and not operational.
Preventing Hamas’s Rehabilitation
Destruction of the Tunnels | Courtesy of IDF
“The working assumption after October 7 is that we don’t know everything, and as pressure increases due to the halt of humanitarian aid, we may see more smuggling attempts of various kinds, including drones, ships, and tunnels,” said a security source. He added that there are still cross-border tunnels that have not been completely blocked from an engineering standpoint, but they are under IDF control. According to him, most of the tunnels were filled with special concrete, some were detonated, and others remain under Israeli control for intelligence-engineering research purposes.
It should be noted that Defense Minister Israel Katz maintains that it is essential not to leave the Philadelphi Corridor, in order to prevent Hamas from strengthening.
Returning the Hostages
In Israel, there are estimates that an agreement on an interim framework can be reached that would lead to the release of hostages and an extension of the cease-fire for several weeks—according to reports from Israeli sources involved in the negotiations. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held two discussions last night, one on plans for Gaza and the other on negotiations for the release of hostages.
“Small Oranim” Proposal
As part of the negotiations, an interim proposal known as “Small Oranim” is being examined, which includes: The release of several hostages, extension of the ceasefire for several weeks, release of Palestinian prisoners, and a time limit for continued discussions.
An Israeli source told Israel’s Channel 12 News that, “there is progress and a consensus can be reached.” He added, “If there was nothing to do in Doha, the delegation would have already returned to Israel. The negotiations did not collapse—on the contrary.”
