We've just learned that on August 27, following intricate and ongoing intelligence-gathering activity, Israeli security forces were able to uncover a tunnel dug from within Gaza in the direction of the Karni crossing. The tunnel was intended to be used to carry out a large-scale terror attack, apparently against the crossing itself. Forces uncovered the shaft (13 meters depth) and main infrastructure (150 meters length) of the tunnel. The tunnel entrance was found inside a house in the residential area of Sajaiya. IDF forces are operating in order to collapse the tunnel. These are pictures of the shaft and interior of the tunnel uncovered by IDF forces near the Karni crossing, intended for an attack on the crossing.


There have been a number of attacks in the past on the Karni crossing. On April 26, a PRC cell in Gaza under the direction of Mamtaz Dougmoush was on its way to carry out a bombing attack at the Karni crossing. In the early afternoon, 3 vehicles arrived at the crossing: one of them was filled with a large amount of explosives, while the other two carried armed gunmen. The plan was apparently to infiltrate the crossing and detonate the explosives, creating an opening for the gunmen to cross over to the Israeli side where they were to open fire on civilians and security personnel operating the crossing.
On December 14, 2005, the IDF carried out an aerial attack against a vehicle loaded with explosives, carrying four members of the PRC and the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, who were on their way to carry out a terrorist attack at the Karni crossing.
On January 13, 2005, a coordinated terrorist attack was carried out at the Karni crossing by the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, Hamas, and the PRC. The terrorists detonated an explosive device near the wall between the Israeli side and the Palestinian side of the crossing, creating a large hole in the wall which enabled three terrorists to infiltrate the Israeli side and open fire in all directions, murdering six and wounding five.
Among those responsible for the attack was Hassan Mad'hun, a senior al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades terrorist who was killed in a security forces activity on November 1, 2005. Mad'hun led an infrastructure which focused primarily on planning and carrying out terrorist attacks at the Karni and Erez crossings. Following a number of attacks directed by Mad'hun, the two crossings were closed several times during the past two years, disrupting the daily lives of Palestinian civilians who were not involved in terror activity.
Another terrorist attack at Karni crossing took place on April 15, 2003. A suicide bomber belonging to Hamas entered the crossing hidden in a crate inside the vehicle of a merchant who had an entry permit into the area. The suicide bomber was dropped off by the vehicle inside the crossing, armed with a handgun, hand grenades and an explosive belt, and began to shoot and throw hand grenades inside the crossing. The suicide bomber was shot and killed by IDF soldiers and security guards at the crossing. Two Israelis were murdered and three others were wounded.
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