A Child’s Drawing, Caged Cells and Mattresses: A Glimpse at the Tunnel where Hostages Were Imprisoned

January 23, 2024

by: Yoav Zitun, Nina Fox ~ Ynetnews

Tuesday, 23 January 2024 | In their search of the tunnel, the troops encountered terrorists and engaged in a firefight. When the troops entered said tunnel, they discovered the terrible conditions in which Hamas had imprisoned the captives.

The tunnel was uncovered in the center of residential Khan Younis and is accessed from inside the home of a Hamas terrorists. Military intelligence estimates the cost of building the tunnel to be in the millions of shekels, and believe it is part of an underground maze of tunnels dug by Hamas beneath the city.

Troops found drawings made by six-year old hostage Emilia Aloni, who was freed in November after being held for 54 days.

“We saw five caged cells where we believe up to 20 hostages were held at various times, without any daylight, hardly any air, a lack of oxygen and terrible humidity,” the Israel Defense Force Spokesperson said. Some of those held there had been released while others are still held captive by Hamas and were moved elsewhere.

Images from the tunnel show what appears to be a hot water heater, electrical infrastructure, mattresses on the floor, blankets, fan, water bottles, trash and a what appears to be a kitchenette with a sink and some dishes, including pots, pans and plates. There was also canned food, cooking oil and cleaning detergents.

In one of the compartments, behind bars, was a matrass and behind it a toilet and sink and a bottle of orange soda thrown on the floor. In another image, what appear to be clothes are seen, likely used by the hostages.

After troops completed their search, it was destroyed.

Posted on January 23, 2024

Source: (This article was originally published by Ynetnews on January 21, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: IDF/Matanya/Wikimedia.org

Photo License: Wikimedia