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Hamas militant dies in tunnel collapse in Gaza Strip

Xinhua, October 22, 2016 Adjust font size:

A Hamas militant died on Saturday when a tunnel collapsed in the Gaza Strip, the movement's armed wing and medics said.

Annas Abu Lashin, 22, was working inside the tunnel, east of al-Mughazi refugee camp in central Gaza Strip, when it collapsed, Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' armed wing, said in a text message sent to reporters.

Ashraf al-Qedra, a spokesman for the Hamas-run Health Ministry, confirmed the death of Abu Lashin, adding no other casualties were recorded.

Over the past few months, more than 20 Palestinian militants, mostly Hamas members, died in the collapse and the cave-in of tunnels they were digging underneath the Gaza Strip.

In 2014, Israel waged a large-scale military air and ground offensive on the Gaza Strip, aiming at destroying dozens of tunnels dug on the border between the Hamas-ruled coastal enclave and Israel.

The 50-day offensive killed 2,200 Palestinians and 70 Israelis and caused large destruction to houses and infrastructure. Yet, Israel failed to prevent militants from digging tunnels in the Gaza Strip.

On Friday, leaders of the Islamic Jihad group called on Palestinian armed groups to be well-prepared and to be on alert for any upcoming military confrontation with Israel. Endit