Iran’s Military Chief: Extensive Labyrinth Tunnels Built by Palestinian Fighters in Gaza

Maj. Gen. Baqeri made the remarks at a conference in Tehran on Monday, as the Zionist regime has announced the “second stage” of a land incursion in the besieged territory.

He said the resistance fighters have dug over 400 kilometers of tunnels in Gaza, where they boost their defense industries, and vehicles and motorcycles can pass through some of them.

“The underground tunnels have an entrance in the Gaza Strip, while their other end is behind the barriers and the Zionist forces,” Baqeri noted.

“The Palestinian combatants are prepared for an Israeli ground attack,” the top general stated.

Iran's highest-ranking military commander stressed that Israel’s bombing campaign on the blockaded enclave “has no military value” compared to Hamas's military operation.

Israel is the loser of the Gaza war even if it continues the bombing for one year, he said, adding that this is because strikes on hospitals and ambulances, as well as the aerial raid of homeless people and women and children, is not “a sign of victory”.

The Israeli regime has lost both on the battlefield and in the world’s public opinion, Maj. Gen. Baqeri continued, stating, “If they (Zionists) want to act logically, they have to accept a ceasefire sooner and buy some time through negotiations.”

The military chief praised Palestinians for standing up against the Zionist regime and upholding their rights instead of giving in to their gradual death at the hands of the occupying entity.

Baqeri added Operation Al-Aqsa Storm was the result of “the accumulation of cruelty and oppression” by the Zionists against Palestinians over many years.

He dismissed reports of foreign involvement in the Hamas operation and said, “The Palestinian fighters make their weapons and design the operations on their own to fight the Zionists.”

He further reiterated Iran’s fair proposal for the Palestine conflict, namely the holding of a referendum among all Palestinian people to decide their fate.

Iran’s proposal of holding a referendum for all Palestinians to decide about their future is the only solution that can put an end to the decades-long Palestinian issue, he argued.

Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Hossein Salami issued a similar warning on Saturday. He cautioned the Zionist regime against conducting a land incursion of the Gaza Strip, saying Israeli soldiers would be wiped out if they chose to fight on the ground.

The IRGC chief said the Israelis have been defeated in all ground operations so far, adding, “They (Zionists) are incapable of fighting against Hamas. The land is the strong point of Hamas.”

“The Zionist regime that would be swallowed and buried if it opts for a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip,” he warned.

The top general stressed that the insane reactions from Israel and its sponsors to the “exceptional, unexpected and surprising” October 7 military operation reveal that the Zionist regime is confused and has lost its mental balance.

“Today, Israel is the scene of unrest and terrible nightmares. The European officials go there (Tel Aviv) every day to give them (Zionists) artificial respiration and think how to make up for that heavy defeat,” he stated.

On October 7, Hamas launched a multi-pronged surprise military operation via land, sea, and air. The group announced it was in response to the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians. The attacks have so far killed more than 1,400 and injured over 5,000, according to Israeli officials. Hamas also announced it is holding between at least 200 and 250 hostages.

Following the multi-front attack by Hamas, Israel carried out heavy bombardment across the Gaza Strip, killing more than 8,000 Palestinians, including at least 3,500 children and over 2,000 women, wounding over 20,000 others, and leveling entire neighborhoods.

Tel Aviv has ordered a "complete siege" of Gaza, saying it would halt its supply of electricity, food, water, and fuel. Israel’s military has also ordered 1.1 million people living in Northern Gaza to evacuate their homes, amid signs it is set to ramp up its offensive.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised address on Saturday night the Israeli military has launched the “second stage” of its war against Gaza, warning settlers to prepare for a long struggle ahead.

“We are only at the beginning of the road. The battle within the Gaza Strip will be difficult and long,” Netanyahu cautioned.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also stated on Saturday that Israel has “moved on to a new phase in the war”, adding that ground operations in Gaza will continue “until new orders are given”.

The bombing, as well as enforced displacement orders by the Israeli Army, has pushed 1.5 million people out of their homes.

The Gaza Health Ministry has confirmed that the healthcare system in the besieged territory has “totally collapsed due to the Israeli war”.

The UN agencies have warned that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is "catastrophic", calling for more international help as conditions deteriorate in the densely populated besieged enclave.

Iranian officials say the current status in West Asia resembles a powder keg that could spiral out of control. They caution that if diplomatic efforts to stop Israeli relentless bombardment and prevent a ground offensive on Gaza are unsuccessful, there is a risk of the conflict escalating uncontrollably, with multiple regional players joining the fight.

Gaza is one of the most densely populated places on Earth, where some 2 million people live in an area of 140 square miles. It has been almost completely cut off from the rest of the world for nearly 17 years. More than half of its population lives in poverty and is food insecure, with nearly 80% of its population relying on humanitarian assistance.

Tehran says the history of the apartheid regime is full of assassinations, massacre, torture, and killing of Palestinian kids, and described the Tel Aviv regime's atrocities and massacre of Palestinian women and children as indicative of the destitute of Zionists. Iranian officials say the Tel Aviv regime has been struggling for more than 70 years to exit its identity crisis which has been mixed with genocide, plunder, forced displacement, and scores of other inhumane moves.