The skyline of Gaza City. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

The Interior Ministry of Hamas, the terror group that rules Gaza, accused Israel on Tuesday of sending text messages to Gaza Strip residents asking for information on smuggling tunnels, Israel’s Channel 10 reported.

The Ministry warned citizens against cooperating with Israel, Egyptian newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm said.

According to Hamas the Israeli text messages read: “If you have information about the presence of a tunnel near the border fence, call this number as soon as possible [number omitted] and we will promptly respond.”

Hamas claimed however, that Israel’s attempts to bust underground smuggling operations by communicating with Gaza residents are doomed to fail since the “Palestinian people are loyal to the cause of national liberation.”

In October, IDF forces uncovered a major tunnel near the Ein Hashlosha kibbutz, located in the western Negev. The tunnel, which ran from Gaza approximately 40 meters into Israel, was to be used for kidnapping Israeli soldiers and civilians, and perhaps even to facilitate a major terrorist attack inside Israel, Israeli security officials said at the time.

The penalty for Gaza residents caught helping Israel is severe and includes the possibility of execution, Channel 10 said.