Found tunnel deemed Hamas firing range

HEBRON, West Bank, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- A West Bank tunnel discovered by the Palestinian Authority was built by the Islamic militant group Hamas for weapons training, sources say.

The tunnel was uncovered two weeks ago near Hebron as part of a crackdown by Palestinian authorities on Hamas activities in the West Bank. Unnamed Palestinian sources told the Israeli newspaper Haaretz they have determined that Hamas agents used the tunnel as a firing range and to conduct weapons trials.

Hamas has long used tunnels built into the sandy soil of the Gaza Strip to transport weapons and fighters but the Hebron tunnel was the first of its kind to be found in the West Bank, the newspaper said. Investigators were at first puzzled because it didn't lead anywhere but then determined it was used as a military training area.

Israeli defense sources told Haaretz it is encouraging to them that Hamas apparently feels it needs to conduct such training exercises underground due to pressure exerted in Hebron by both the Israeli military and Palestinian Authority police.