The (official) Authority said in an investigation published Tuesday that the images published by the occupation army in August, claiming they were of a tunnel in the Philadelphi Corridor, were "incorrect," confirming that "it was not a tunnel, but rather a canal covered in dirt."
"There was never a tunnel, just a canal covered in dirt," she added, explaining that the goal of this lie was to "exaggerate the importance of the Philadelphi Corridor and delay the hostage deal," she said.
In early August 2024, the Israeli occupation army published a photo of a military vehicle emerging from a hole, announcing at the time that it had "discovered a massive tunnel, 3 meters high, through which vehicles could pass."
In this context, the Broadcasting Authority quoted ousted Defense Minister Yoav Gallant as confirming the army's falsehoods on this issue, saying, "It wasn't a tunnel, but rather an attempt to prevent a ceasefire agreement."
Galant (wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza) declared during the investigation that what was found at the Philadelphi Corridor at the time was a tunnel only one meter deep, which had been covered with dirt and marketed to the public as a deeper tunnel in order to prevent a deal with Hamas.
The image of the alleged tunnel circulated at the height of the debate within Israel over the importance of seizing the Philadelphi Corridor and the failure to reach a deal to return Israeli detainees held in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas demands a cessation of hostilities and a complete withdrawal of the Israeli occupation forces from all parts of the Gaza Strip as a precondition for reaching any agreement regarding the release of Israeli prisoners.
For its part, Israel exploited the image of the fabricated tunnel to promote its position and justify its failure to withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor as part of any agreement, according to the Hebrew Authority. The Israeli army has not commented on the investigation.
In May 2024, Israel occupied the Philadelphi Corridor and the Palestinian side of the Rafah land crossing between Gaza and Egypt, a move rejected by the factions, the Palestinian Authority, and Cairo.
According to Hebrew media reports, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists on keeping the Israeli army in the Philadelphi Corridor, claiming it represents an "oxygen pipeline for Hamas" and claiming that the movement "uses it to smuggle weapons," defying regional positions, particularly those of Egypt and Hamas.
The Philadelphi Agreement is considered one of the most prominent points of contention between Tel Aviv and Hamas, which insists on the complete withdrawal of the occupation army from the Gaza Strip.
Egypt and Hamas repeatedly deny the existence of any tunnels in the Philadelphi Corridor area.
Tel Aviv was supposed to withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor under the phases of the ceasefire agreement that took effect on January 19, 2025, between Hamas and Israel, with Egyptian-Qatari mediation and US support. The Palestinian movement adhered to the agreement, but Tel Aviv disavowed it.
However, in early March 2025, the first phase of the agreement ended, and Netanyahu—who is wanted by international justice—reneged on the start of its second phase. He resumed the genocide in Gaza on the 18th of the same month, in deference to the most extreme faction within his right-wing government, according to Hebrew media.
Netanyahu struck back by reneging on any phases stipulated in the ceasefire agreement, including the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip on condition that all Israeli prisoners be released.
Tel Aviv estimates that there are 59 Israeli detainees in the Gaza Strip, while more than 9,900 Palestinians are languishing in its prisons, suffering torture, starvation, and medical neglect, many of whom have died, according to Palestinian and Israeli human rights and media reports.