Live Update arrow right icon From the Liveblog of Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Army seals Hamas tunnels in central, southern Gaza

By Emanuel Fabian 19 August 2026, 12:35 pm
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Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

Two Hamas tunnels, spanning in total some two kilometers (1.2 miles) underground, were recently sealed by combat engineers, the IDF announces.

The IDF says the tunnels were found in central and southern Gaza, amid efforts to clear the Israeli-held portion of the Strip of Hamas infrastructure.

The army says it used concrete to close off the tunnels. Sealing tunnels with concrete can be a cheaper and less risky alternative to blowing them up, although it takes longer to carry out.

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