Hamas on Tuesday, July 9th, held a surprise training exercise to assess the level of its forces in a simulated confrontation with IDF forces. The exercise included fighters from its military wing and other combatants.

Hamas explains the closure of crossing “because hostile elements wish to compromise the security and general order, an exercise was held, and emergency committees were activated”.

It is believed Hamas held the exercise involving its forces to avoid another situation like the IDF undercover operation in Khan Yunis in which Lt.-Colonel ‘M’ was killed and the fact that just this week, the IDF announced the discovery of yet another Hamas tunnel in southern Gaza.

During the ongoing process of constructing the underground barrier from Gaza, tunnels have been discovered. Since Operation Protective Edge in the summer of 2014, the IDF has uncovered 18 tunnels, which were constructed to permit terrorists from Gaza to enter southern Israel to carry out attacks.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)