Hamas Mined IDF Troops' Social Media; IDF Takes Out 'Root' Tunnel; Remains of Israeli Hostage Found in Gaza
In a significant series of events, Hamas is reported to have been spying on Israeli Defense Forces' (IDF) social media to gather intel on bases and tanks, while the IDF has taken out a complex Hamas tunnel in Rafah. Meanwhile, the remains of an Israeli hostage have reportedly been found in Gaza.
Background and Context
Hamas is alleged to have spent years mining the social media of IDF troops, spying on approximately 100,000 soldiers' online accounts, to gather important data. The intel collected was reportedly used to map bases, build VR training models, and learn how to disable tanks1.
Simultaneously, the IDF has reportedly dismantled one of Hamas's most complex underground infrastructures, labeled as the root tunnel
, beneath the southern Gaza city of Rafah2. This operation is considered a game changer with high tension in the West Bank3.
Key Developments
The IDF released a video on November 20, demonstrating the sophistication and scale of Hamas's underground network2. This seven-kilometer-long tunnel, approximately 25 meters underground, contained about 80 rooms and was used for command operations, weapon storage, and sheltering Hamas operatives2.
In a separate development, the body of an Israeli hostage held by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad has been reportedly found in central Gaza4. The Islamic Jihad group, an ally of Hamas, claimed to have found the body during search operations in areas controlled by the Israeli army56.
Implications and Reactions
The IDF has vowed to hunt down dozens of Hamas fighters still believed to be holed up in Rafah7. The Israeli military claims the dismantled tunnel originated beneath a United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) compound and stretched beneath civilian sites2, sending a strong message that terror will find no safe haven2.
The discovery of the remains of the Israeli hostage in central Gaza has highlighted ongoing searches amid Israel's assault on the area, which has left vast parts of central Gaza in ruins8.
Current Status
Despite these developments, the situation in the region remains tense. While the IDF continues its operations against Hamas, the terror group is believed to be on the run from Rafah tunnels3. The recovery of the remains of the Israeli captive has not been officially announced by the terror groups on their plans to give the remains to Israel4.