The military identified 20 smuggling tunnels totaling more than 20km (12.5 miles) and over 230 tunnel shafts.

The army stated that 100 of these tunnel shafts were located within the Philadelphi corridor, a thin, demilitarized buffer zone along Gaza’s border with Egypt.

Israel has long claimed that Hamas uses tunnels in the Philadelphi corridor to smuggle weapons from Egypt into Gaza, a claim Egypt denies. Future control over this corridor will be crucial in any ceasefire negotiations.

Hundreds of Palestinians have died during Israel’s operation in Rafah, including at least 45 people who died when a tent encampment near what Israel described as a Hamas military building caught fire in May.

Israel acknowledged the deaths as a “tragic mishap,” but even its closest allies have expressed outrage over the high civilian death toll in Rafah and across Gaza.

Israel insists it adheres to international law even as it faces scrutiny in the world’s top courts, one of which last month demanded that it halt the offensive in Rafah.

US President Joe Biden issued his strongest warning to Israel over the operation in Rafah, threatening to cut the supply of offensive weapons if Israel carried out a wide-ranging operation.

Thus far, the Biden administration has said that Israel’s military maneuvers in Rafah do not yet cross their red line.

The military’s figures were released as tens of thousands of people who say they have lost faith in Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu protested in Jerusalem on Monday, calling for immediate elections and an end to the war in Gaza.

Many Israelis, anguished over the hostages still held in Gaza and the ongoing war, accuse Mr. Netanyahu of putting political interests ahead of all else. They believe the government has lost control of the eight-month-old war and demand a deal to stop the fighting and return the hostages.

Mr. Netanyahu denies these accusations, saying he has the country’s best interests in mind.

Later on Monday, Palestinian health officials reported that nine people had been killed in an Israeli strike in eastern Rafah, a day after the Israeli military pledged new steps to increase the flow of humanitarian aid through the area.

Mohammed Daloul, who lost three relatives in Monday’s strike, said some of the people killed were merchants waiting to pick up deliveries near the Israeli border.

The European Hospital in the nearby city of Khan Younis confirmed the nine deaths.

In a recent military operation, Israel has identified 20 smuggling tunnels totaling over 20km and more than 230 tunnel shafts, with half of these located in the Philadelphi corridor along Gaza’s border with Egypt. Israel asserts that Hamas uses these tunnels to smuggle weapons from Egypt, a claim Egypt denies. Control over this corridor is expected to be a key issue in any ceasefire negotiations.
The operation in Rafah has led to the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians, including 45 in a tent encampment fire in May. Israel has labeled these deaths as a “tragic mishap,” but the high civilian toll has drawn international outrage, including from Israel’s allies. Despite this, Israel insists it complies with international law, although it is under scrutiny from global courts.
US President Joe Biden has warned Israel about the consequences of expanding the Rafah operation, suggesting a potential halt in the supply of offensive weapons. However, the Biden administration believes Israel’s actions have not yet crossed a critical threshold.
The situation has sparked widespread protests in Israel, with tens of thousands demanding elections and an end to the Gaza conflict. Protesters accuse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of prioritizing political interests and losing control of the war, while Netanyahu maintains he is acting in the country’s best interests.
On Monday, an Israeli strike in eastern Rafah killed nine Palestinians, including merchants near the Israeli border. This occurred a day after the Israeli military promised to increase humanitarian aid in the area.