Israel claims to have found a "substantial, elaborate" Hamas tunnel network in Gaza City

Videos allegedly showing a system of tunnels running through the heart of Gaza City were released by the Israeli military.

After gaining operational control over Palestine Square, a plaza in the heart of the city, the army claimed to have discovered the network. The videos allegedly depict a number of subterranean access points and tunnel shafts.

Lt Col. Peter Lerner, a spokesman for the Israeli army, described the tunnels as a "substantial, elaborate network of interconnected command control positions" during a briefing with journalists.

"What we're doing here is exposing the terror tunnel network of Hamas layer by layer. According to Lerner, it's the biggest and most costly construction project to have ever taken place in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli forces discovered food, water, electrical infrastructure, and communication capabilities within the tunnels, according to Lerner.