This is the tunnel that Hamas terrorists used to launch their devastating Oct. 7, 2023 assault on Kibbutz Nahal Oz — killing more than 60 soldiers and 15 civilians in one of the bloodiest clashes of the attack.
asserted
terrorists → use → attack
And it was this same tunnel — a mile and a half long “a city under a city” in the Gaza Strip — that the terrorists used to escape and hide the 18 hostages they took from the Kibbutz.
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they → use → Kibbutz
Three years after the massacre that left more than 1,200 people dead, the IDF gave journalists an in-depth look inside the massive tunnel systems discovered less than half a mile from Nahal Oz.
“It is hard to imagine, but it [the tunnel] is all connected and goes back to [Gaza City],” an IDF commander in the southern Gaza Strip told reporters.
asserted
commander → leave → reporters
The outside of the tunnel laid inconspicuous in what is now a leveled-area, with a screen door leading to the underground network below.
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what → lay → network
The tunnel entrance itself was equipped with a massive, reinforced door that was designed to slow IDF soldiers’ entry while allowing Hamas terrorists to escape through another exit, the commander said.
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commander → equip → exit
Inside, the barracks were equipped with a bathroom, several rooms with air conditioning, a working water system, and sleeping quarters that could accommodate Hamas terrorists for many months.
uncertain
that → equip → months
“Many thousands [of Hamas terrorists] could live in the tunnels,” the commander added.
uncertain
commander → live → tunnels
Like many of the other tunnel networks, this one consisted of a long and narrow stone hallway with wires overhead that allowed electricity to flow throughout the base.
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electricity → consist → base
The eerie, dark corridors of the tunnel were where Hamas dragged 18 victims after invading Nahal Oz and unleashing one of the bloodiest massacres of the day, according to an IDF commander.
uncertain
Hamas → drag → commander
The terror group kidnapped seven people from the kibbutz itself, including female soldiers Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa and Naama Levy, who were featured in Hamas propaganda before being released in early 2025.
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who → kidnap → 2025
The women were pictured bloodied and injured as they were forced to sit across from the bodies of their fellow soldiers who were slaughtered in the surprise attack, with the terrorist caught on film threatening to rape the captives.
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terrorist → picture → captives
The IDF base at Nahal Oz had numerous security cameras, which captured how the soldiers were overwhelmed by hundreds of Hamas terrorists who poured into Nahal Oz in the span of 15 minutes.
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who → have → minutes
Once the base was taken, Hamas rampaged inside the neighboring village, livestreaming the slaughter and kidnapping of its citizens using their victims’ phones.
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Hamas → take → phones
Harrowing images soon emerged of dozens of bodies on the ground, bloodied cribs and children’s rooms, and whole houses that were burned down in the attack.
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that → emerge → attack
The assault on Nahal Oz was dubbed a “system failure” by the IDF as its 162 soldiers on post were unable to respond to Hamas’ invasion.
Israeli military officials believe that some of the Israeli hostages may have been held in the newly discovered tunnel during the war in Gaza.
The IDF commander estimates that Israel has destroyed at least 32 miles of Hamas’ tunnel network on his watch since the war began, but it could “take years” to dismantle the more than 300 miles remaining beneath Gaza.
uncertain
it → dub → Gaza
Along with a tour inside the tunnel, the IDF also escorted journalists to a military post inside of Gaza overlooking the ancient city of Deir al-Balah.
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IDF → escort → Balah
IDF officials said that there are “no Palestinians inside the IDF-controlled territory,” which represents nearly 70% of Gaza.
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which → say → Gaza
Despite the IDF’s control over the majority of the Palestinian enclave, fighting continues with Hamas terrorists — who targeted an engineering vehicle with a roadside bomb just days before the tour, officials said.
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officials → continue → tour
Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.
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Report → deliver → news
“Hamas is doing everything to rebuild,” an IDF official from a Gaza Strip military post said.
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official → do → post
The IDF also brought reporters to Kibbutz Kfar Aza, located near the Gaza border and where IDF spokeswoman Rona Epstein, 22, was raised.
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Epstein → bring → border
Epstein said she lost her brother and several family members during the Oct. 7 terror attack, with the kibbutz losing 64 residents, including infants and children.
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kibbutz → say → infants
Her brother, Netta, dove on a Hamas grenade to protect his girlfriend, Irene Shavit, who was found alive by responding IDF soldiers as she hid beneath Netta’s body, Epstein recalled.
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Epstein → dive → body
Kfar Aza, which once had some 1,000 people living and even employed Gazans to try to bridge peace between the two groups, now only has 200 residents and volunteers.
asserted
people → have → residents
The Aporia
