Anti-Hamas militia says it is destroying terror group’s tunnels in Gaza

The leader of an anti-Hamas militia based in IDF-controlled areas of the southern Gaza Strip says it is working on demolishing the terror group’s tunnels — a confirmation that further shows Israel’s support for the armed gang.

“We have gradually begun dismantling the tunnels as they are the most important weapons. Then the weapons production facilities, then the rockets, and finally the light weapons,” says Ghassan al-Duhaini, the leader of the Popular Forces.

“In the future, not a single illegal weapon will enter Rafah, and smuggling operations will be dealt with in full force,” Duhaini says in a Facebook post on Thursday.

Alongside the post, he publishes an image showing members of the Popular Forces outside an entrance to a tunnel while wearing oxygen masks.

The Popular Forces was founded by an anti-Hamas armed Bedouin leader, Yasser Abu Shabab. Abu Shabab was killed in December in what the group described as a family feud. He was replaced by his deputy, Duhaini, who vowed no let-up in the fight against Hamas.

Israel has previously acknowledged its support for militias fighting Hamas in the enclave. It has provided them with weapons, air support, intelligence, food, and cigarettes, as well as airlifted wounded militia members into Israel for medical care.