GAZA: Seven Hamas members were killed when a tunnel collapsed close to the Gaza Strip’s eastern border with Israel, the militant group’s armed wing said on Thursday.

It said the collapse occurred on Tuesday night as a result of heavy rain and it took two days to find the bodies and announce the deaths.

Mosques across the Palestinian enclave mourned those killed, calling them “Martyrs of the Preparation,” a reference to their work digging tunnels used to attack Israel.

“The fathers of these martyrs should be proud. The whole world will witness the deeds of their tunnels against the (Israeli) occupier should they dare (to attack) our people and our land,” said Izz El-Deen Al-Qassam Brigades.

Meanwhile, an ultra-nationalist Israeli group that has campaigned against foreign-funded NGOs broadened its assault to include left-wing artists on Thursday, accusing authors such as Amos Oz and David Grossman of disloyalty to the country.