The Israeli army destroyed an underground tunnel connecting eastern Gaza city and Israel early Monday, witnesses and Israeli Radio reported.

The witnesses said they saw unusual movement of Israeli army vehicles near the borders between the eastern Gaza neighborhood of Sheja'eya and Israel.

A huge explosion was clearly heard and the houses were shaking, the witnesses said.

Meanwhile, the Arabic service of Israeli Radio quoted an army spokesman as saying that the army destroyed an underground tunnel that was discovered last summer during a military offensive on the coastal enclave.

According to the spokesman, combat weapons were found hidden inside the tunnel.

On July 8, the Israeli army waged a 50-day large-scale operation on the Gaza Strip, and said the aim of the operation, mainly the ground part of it, was to destroy tunnels used by militants in carrying out armed attacks into Israel.