IDF Uncovers Extensive Hamas Tunnel Network Beneath Rafah

RAFAH, Gaza Strip — November 24, 2025 — The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have revealed the discovery of one of Hamas’s largest and most complex underground tunnel networks beneath the southern Gaza city of Rafah, officials said. The tunnel system, described by the IDF as a “root tunnel,” extends approximately seven kilometers and reaches depths of about 25 meters below ground.

According to the IDF, the tunnel contains around 80 rooms used for command operations, weapons storage, and sheltering Hamas operatives. The network reportedly runs beneath civilian locations, including mosques, schools, and a United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) compound.

A video released by the IDF on November 20 shows reinforced concrete passageways and large chambers, illustrating the sophistication and scale of the underground infrastructure. The military stated that the tunnel was manned by hundreds of militants and commanders and served as a strategic hub for Hamas’s underground warfare system.

Israeli analysts have characterized the destruction of this tunnel as a significant strategic setback for Hamas. Professor Kobi Michael, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies and the Misgav Institute, described the tunnel as a “root tunnel” that supports numerous tactical tunnels and is used for command and control, weapon storage, manufacturing, and logistics.

The IDF also noted that the tunnel may have been connected to the location where Lt. Hadar Goldin, an Israeli soldier abducted during the 2014 Gaza war, was held captive. Goldin’s remains were returned to Israel earlier this month after more than a decade.

The exposure and demolition of this tunnel network highlight the extent of Hamas’s underground operations in Gaza and represent a notable development in Israel’s ongoing military efforts in the region.