In a striking case of “insider revealing the truth,” former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has begun exposing the false claims propagated by the Israeli military during the Gaza war.
Gallant disclosed that a widely circulated image released by the Israeli army, which allegedly showed an “underground tunnel” at the Philadelphi Corridor, was entirely misleading. According to Gallant, what was portrayed as a tunnel was in fact merely a one-meter-deep trench — not an underground passage.
It’s worth noting that in August 2024, the Israeli military had presented the image to the media as a major success. Israeli outlets promoted it as a significant “discovery,” claiming it was part of an extensive underground network used by Palestinian resistance, which had reportedly stunned the Israeli forces.
Gallant asserted that this false narrative was deliberately constructed to exaggerate the strategic importance of the Philadelphi route and to delay a potential prisoner exchange deal. Observers now say this statement confirms that the Israeli army has been spreading disinformation to serve Prime Minister Netanyahu’s political agenda, misleading both the public and the international community.
This appears to be a calculated attempt to harden public opinion against Palestinians, obstruct humanitarian aid, and postpone sensitive negotiations such as the release of hostages. According to Al Jazeera, the “tunnel” discovered in August had received widespread coverage in Israel.
The image, which showed a military vehicle allegedly emerging from the tunnel, has now been exposed as merely a regular drainage ditch.
Gallant’s revelations have not only shaken the military narrative but also triggered a political storm within Israel. Political science professor Mohammad Ghazi Al-Jamal commented that Gallant’s recent disclosures highlight deep divisions between the Israeli government, military, and opposition.
He believes each faction is now trying to discredit the other. This, he said, reflects the ongoing political and security crisis in Israel — one that is without precedent in the country’s history.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid and President Isaac Herzog have already warned of the dangers of civil war and political violence. The government’s exaggerated narrative surrounding the so-called “tunnel” was intended to delay prisoner exchanges by inflating its military achievements. Now that the truth has emerged, the government’s credibility is under threat, while the opposition — calling for an end to the war and the release of prisoners — is gaining ground.
According to Professor Al-Jamal, while Netanyahu currently enjoys a parliamentary majority and strong support from the far-right, growing public and political pressure may eventually force the Israeli government to seek a political settlement for peace.
