JERUSALEM, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Israel Defense Forces on Friday said it has found the bodies of nine Palestinian militants killed in tunnels in the southern Gaza Strip.

The Israeli army said in a statement that the bodies were found in the underground "terror" infrastructure in eastern Rafah, adding that the militants were most likely killed during the army's ongoing efforts to dismantle the infrastructure sites through aerial strikes and "engineering measures."

According to the Israeli army, over 30 militants who attempted to flee the underground infrastructure in eastern Rafah have been killed so far.

It added that the pursuit of militants fleeing the tunnels continues.

Hamas on Wednesday urged mediators to press Israel to allow safe passage for dozens of its fighters trapped in tunnels in southern Gaza -- the first public admission by the group that its members were cornered underground.

Israeli media have reported for weeks that 100 to 200 Hamas militants remain stuck in a tunnel network under Rafah, in territory now controlled by Israeli forces. ■