Today, Representative Lois Frankel reiterated her support for Israel as the country defends itself against Hamas’ vast underground tunnel network.

“No nation can accept the perpetual threat of terrorists launching attacks and kidnappings from underground tunnels,” Frankel said. “It’s shocking to learn that Hamas has spent upwards of $100 million on these tunnels at the expense of Palestinians in Gaza. The Hamas leadership has once again shown that it cares more about killing Israelis than it does about helping Palestinians.”

Since the beginning of Operation Protective Edge the Israel Defense Force (IDF) has identified 32 sophisticated underground “attack tunnels” each with multiple shafts and openings. The tunnels were built for the sole purpose of infiltrating Israel in order to murder and kidnap Israeli civilians and soldiers.

Last week ten Hamas gunmen emerged from a tunnel near Israel's Kibbutz Nir-Am and killed four Israeli soldiers before they were killed themselves in return fire. Hamas militants have infiltrated Israel six times this month through hidden tunnels.

Officials have reported that the tunnels are stocked with tranquilizers, handcuffs, syringes, ropes and other materials used for abductions. The tunnels also hold vast quantities of explosives and other military equipment meant to be used in mass-casualty attacks.

Rather than investing in the Palestinian people, Hamas has spent significant resources on terror tunnels. Construction materials delivered by Israel – meant for Palestinians civilians – have been systematically diverted by Hamas. Since the beginning of 2014 alone, 4,680 trucks carrying 181 thousand tons of gravel, iron, cement, wood and other supplies have passed through Israel’s Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza. Yet, instead of building schools, clinics, and homes, Hamas has used much of the material to build tunnels.

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