An investigation into the Israeli military's destruction of cemeteries in Gaza has raised questions about the claim that a Hamas tunnel was discovered underneath one of them. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) invited journalists to visit the site but refused to show them the exact location of the tunnel entrance.
The Bani Sahela Cemetery in Gaza was once a burial ground, but it has been partially destroyed by Israeli excavators. The Israeli military claimed that they needed to enter the area because they had discovered a Hamas tunnel running beneath the cemetery. However, during a three-hour tour of the site, they failed to provide any evidence to support their claim.
The IDF stated that they were being fired upon from the area surrounding the cemetery, which led them to believe there was a tunnel present. Journalists were taken on a journey to investigate the military's claims, starting from a residential building that had allegedly been connected to the tunnel system. Descending into the dark underground labyrinth, journalists observed rooms equipped with electricity and plumbing, which the Israeli military claimed were used as a Hamas command center.
The IDF insisted that the tunnel system led to this command center, but there was no way to verify whether the location was indeed beneath the cemetery. Despite asking the IDF to show them the tunnel entrance, journalists were denied access due to safety concerns and the presence of machinery.
The IDF later released drone footage, geolocated by satellite imagery, that showed two tunnel entrances outside the cemetery. However, they did not provide any evidence for the tunnel they claimed to have discovered beneath the cemetery.
The lack of evidence raised further questions about the legitimacy of the Israeli military's claims. A press release issued by the military placed the command center outside the boundaries of the cemetery, contradicting the statements made by General Goldfuss during the journalists' visit.
The investigation into the destruction of cemeteries in Gaza and the alleged discovery of tunnels continues, leaving many with more questions than answers. The absence of concrete evidence from the IDF raises concerns about the accuracy of their claims and highlights the need for further transparency in investigating such incidents.
