On the evening of July 8th the IDF announced the discovery of yet another cross-border tunnel, this time in the Eshkol region.
“Another cross-border tunnel dug into Israeli territory was discovered in the southern part of the Gaza Strip during construction of the country’s underground barrier, the IDF announced on Monday evening.
“At this time, IDF soldiers are conducting an investigation of the passage,” the IDF said. “More information will be provided shortly.”
It is unclear if the tunnel was newly dug by terror groups in the Strip or if it was an old unused tunnel.”
As local media outlets reported:
“The cross-border tunnel is the 18th discovered since the end of the 2014 war…”
While that war (Operation Protective Edge) was still ongoing the IDF destroyed thirty-two tunnels, fourteen of which crossed into Israeli territory.
The last time the BBC produced any dedicated reporting on the subject of the tunnels constructed by terror factions in the Gaza Strip was fifteen months ago – although it avoided giving audiences a clear and accurate description in its own words of their purpose.
BBC still prevaricating on purpose of Hamas tunnels
As was noted here at the time:
“In October 2017 the BBC’s report on a tunnel constructed by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad amplified that terror group’s propaganda regarding its purpose. In April 2016 the BBC employed the ‘Israel says’ formula when describing the intended purpose of a Hamas tunnel discovered in the southern part of the border region. In December 2017 the same terminology was seen again.”
Some of the tunnels discovered since August 2014 have been completely ignored by the BBC:
No BBC reporting on latest Hamas cross-border tunnel
Another Hamas cross-border tunnel ignored by the BBC
New type of Hamas tunnel not newsworthy for the BBC
On other occasions tunnels have been given a cursory mention in reports while on others they have been excluded from reporting even though they were relevant to the story.
Although BBC audiences regularly hear that “Israel restricts the supply of many building materials like cement into Gaza”, they have not seen any serious reporting on Hamas’ proven misappropriation of construction materials for terrorism purposes that include cross-border tunnels.
It is hence hardly surprising to see that this latest news has to date also been ignored by the BBC’s local correspondents, who apparently are not of the opinion that audience understanding of the popular and frequently covered topic of the situation in the Gaza Strip would be enhanced by knowing that no fewer than eighteen tunnels dug solely for the purposes of terrorism have been discovered in the past five years.