The tunnel about 15 meters deep was filled with explosives, the Israeli paper claimed. The allegation could not be independently verified.

According to the Israeli paper, the 2.5 kilometers tunnel connects a village situated between Khan Younis and the Gaza border fence, and Israel's Kibbutz Ein Hashlosha.

Israel's Channel Two quoted security officials as saying that the tunnel could have been built to capture Israeli soldiers or carry out attacks inside Israel, adding that it was one of the longest tunnels that has been exposed yet between the Palestinian territory and Israel.

In 2006, seven members of Hamas used a tunnel to infiltrate Israel and abduct soldier Gilad Shalit, who was released five years later in a prisoner swap.