MOSCOW (Sputnik) — A field commander of the Palestinian Hamas Islamic movement, Abdel-Salam Batneeji, was killed in a tunnel collapse east of Gaza on Monday, local media reported, citing the group's statement.
The cause of the collapse has not been established, the Times of Israel said.
The recent collapse was the ninth since the beginning of the year. Over 10 people have died in the collapses since late January.
The Gaza Strip blockade restricts the movement of people and goods in and out of the territory. The tunnels are used to smuggle goods, people and weapons.
