The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has unveiled a shocking discovery in the northern Gaza Strip, exposing a vast Hamas underground headquarters and recovering the bodies of five hostages abducted during the October 7 Massacre. The IDF released footage of the operation, providing a glimpse inside the extensive tunnel network that served as Hamas’ northern stronghold.
The deceased hostages have been identified as Warrant Officer Ziv Dado, Sergeant Ron Sherman, Corporal Nik Beizer, Eden Zacharia, and Elia Toledano. These individuals were reportedly abducted by terrorists on October 7, triggering a massive effort by the IDF to locate and recover them.
The video footage shows IDF soldiers standing near the entrance of the labyrinthine tunnel, situated more than 32 feet below schools and hospitals in the city of Jabalia. The dark and cramped conditions reflect the challenging environment faced by the soldiers during their mission.
“In a centralized intelligence effort, IDF troops located and recovered the bodies of 5 hostages—abducted during the October 7 Massacre—and brought them back to Israel,” the IDF captioned the video, followed by the statement, “May their memory be a blessing.” The soldiers are shown in the footage, gathered around the tunnel, engaging in a somber prayer for the fallen hostages.
Eylon Levy, spokesperson for Israel’s armed forces, revealed that the underground passage served as “Hamas’ northern underground headquarters in Gaza.” Following its discovery, the IDF executed an extensive operation to dismantle the facility, which was reportedly used for various illicit activities by the terrorist organization.
“In fierce battles to secure the Hamas stronghold of Jabalia, the IDF exposed a strategic tunnel network that served as Hamas’ northern headquarters in Gaza. The first level was 10 meters deep under the city, the second dozens of meters deep,” Levy explained in a social media thread.
Levy further detailed that the tunnel facilitated the movement, hiding, and storage of weapons for the terrorists. “It was connected to a shaft leading to the residence of the Commander of Hamas’ Northern Brigade, Ahmad Andur. The underground network also passed beneath a school and a hospital,” he added.
“After exposing the Hamas underground terror network in Jabalia and extracting hostages’ bodies, the IDF dismantled the subterranean HQ. We now continue to strike Hamas’ senior commanders and strategic capabilities in Khan Yunis and the southern Gaza Strip,” Levy concluded.
The hostages, including 28-year-old Elia Toledano abducted from the Nova music festival, and 27-year-old Eden Zacharia, were among those recovered from the underground network. Warrant Officer Ziv Dado, Sergeant Ron Sherman, and Corporal Nik Beizer, who hailed from different locations and served in various capacities, were also victims of the October 7 abduction.
The IDF’s uncovering of the Hamas underground network marks a significant milestone in their ongoing efforts to neutralize the organization’s strategic capabilities and protect the region from further threats.
