Israel raids vacation homes of Hamas leaders, discovers tunnel under baby crib in Gaza: ‘Gaining operational control’

By: Ronny R.

Israeli troops raided the vacation homes of several key senior Hamas commanders in southern Gaza – and uncovered a secret tunnel hidden under a baby crib in the northern strip, officials said Sunday.

Soldiers with the Israel Defense Forces’ 7th Armored Brigade entered the offices and private residences of Hamas’ upper echelon – including those of terror leader Yahya Sinwar, who orchestrated the Oct. 7 massacre – as the troops encroached deeper into Khan Younis, southern Gaza’s largest hub, The Times of Israel reports.

“We found weapons, tunnels inside vacation homes of senior Hamas officials,” IDF Col. Elad Tzuri said of his forces. “We see a lot of tunnel shafts here, still encountering the enemy but gaining operational control of the area.”

One of the vacation homes breached belonged to Sinwar, whose residence was encircled by the IDF earlier this month during the most intense fighting southern Gaza had seen since the war began.

Sinwar has not been located in either his residence or vacation home, with Israeli officials believing he is hiding somewhere in Gaza’s vast, 300-mile underground tunnel system.

The Hamas leader is believed to be the one who orchestrated the Oct. 7 massacre that saw more than 1,200 people killed in Israel.

Israel’s latest operation in Khan Younis saw the IDF troops uncover about 30 tunnel shafts scattered across the city, with Israeli soldiers killing “many terrorists” through tank fire, the Jewish state said.

Another newly discovered tunnel was hidden under a baby crib in a home in northern Gaza, Israel said.

IDF troops also successfully struck dozens of Hamas’ missile launch sites and observation posts.

Along with the raid in the southern hub, the IDF took out an outpost that belonged to Hamas’ Deir al-Balah battalion, recovering intelligence materials as well, the Israeli military said.

Israeli soldiers also conducted a raid at the home of a member of Hamas’ elite Nukhba  forces, seizing weapons and equipment, the IDF added.

Tzuri touted Sunday that his forces have now reached the main square in Bani Suheila and have effectively taken control of the “heart Khan Younis.”

The IDF’s latest advancements come after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated Saturday that the war will continue until all of Hamas is eradicated.

“The war must continue until victory, despite the international pressure and despite the unbearable cost that the war is exacting from us in our fallen sons and daughters,” Netanyahu said.