An intricate Hamas terror tunnel exposed by the IDF, on March 21, 2014. Photo: IDF / Twitter.

Israel Defense Forces Major General Sammy Turgeman on Friday said following the discovery of  a terror tunnel, the fourth found in the past year and the most substantial, that the underground traps are “a top priority” and the IDF will “operate day and night to thwart them.”

In comments posted by IDF spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner to Twitter, Turgeman, whose division discovered the tunnel, said, “Hamas invests in tunnels instead of the welfare of the people of Gaza.”

“We will make every effort in order to locate terror tunnels,with persistence & the knowledge we have accumulated,” he said.

Lerner said the tunnel, which could be booby trapped, showed a level of construction ingenuity and complexity that likely involved foreign support from Iran.

According to the IDF, the tunnel is located just a few hundreds meters from the Israeli border. It runs 8 to 9 meters (26 to 30 feet) deep in some parts and 20 meters (66 feet) deep in others. Fresh foot and tire tracks found in the area, as well as tools and generators, suggest that is had been visited recently by those digging the tunnel. A military source said all signs indicated that the tunnel was to be used as part of a “quality terror attack.”

The surprising length and level of completion of the Hamas terror tunnel, as exposed by the IDF, on March 21, 2014. Photo: IDF / Twitter.

Lerner described it as “an investment in evil intentions” and said the “IDF will continue to operate around the fence in order to unveil these intentions.”

Lerner said, “This is a long term Hamas terror project in order to seize an opportunity to abduct, infiltrate or explode”.

On Twitter, Lerner also introduced some levity by noting that the tunnels were “Not the @MTA for your daily commute in #NYC,” as photos and video footage of the construction resembles the New York subway tunnels. “Thank you #Hamas for the tunnel,” he said. “Once again we have exposed you as the terror organization you are.”

Watch IDF footage of the Hamas terror tunnel.