The military wing of the Gaza's ruling Hamas said on Monday it was behind the recently uncovered tunnel running into Israel meant to kidnap Israeli soldiers Al Arabia reproted.
"This tunnel was made by the hand of the fighters of (Izzadine) al-Qassam and they will not sleep in their efforts to hit the occupation and kidnap soldiers," the group's spokesman Abu Obeida told Hamas's al-Aqsa radio, according to Agence France-Presse.
"We are working on the ground and under the ground to release the prisoners (held by Israel)," he was quoted as saying by AFP.
"Kidnapping soldiers is the only way to succeed against the (Israeli) occupation."
Israeli officials on Sunday said troops uncovered a tunnel running from Gaza 450 meters into Israel and allegedly intended as a springboard for attacks.
In June 2006 Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was captured through a cross border tunnel from Gaza. He was released on October 18, 2011 in exchange for 1,027 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
On Saturday, Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniya called for a renewed "armed resistance" against the restarted peace talks between Israel and Palestinians.