The Israeli army on Monday revealed that it had discovered and neutralized a long tunnel running from Hamas-controlled Gaza into southern Israel.

The tunnel’s exit point was several dozen yards from the Gaza border fence and not too close to any of the Jewish communities in the area.

Nevertheless, like the many terror tunnels utilized by Hamas in the last Gaza war, it posed a significant security threat to both IDF forces and Israeli civilians.

The tunnel was first discovered about two weeks ago, according to the IDF Spokesperson, who did not elaborate on whether the tunnel was collapsed or sealed.

“The working assumption is that Hamas continues to build [these tunnels]. Our job is to prevent attacks against innocent civilians,” military spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner told Army Radio.

Indeed, reports over the past year have indicated that a large percentage of the aid and building materials entering Gaza each month are confiscated by Hamas in order to dig and stabilize these tunnels.

At a rally in Gaza City last week, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said his group would continue trying to provoke Israel into another bloody armed conflict.

“Our message to the prisoners is a message inked in blood. The rifle and the tunnel are our commitment,” he told Hamas supporters.