It seems the intent was indeed to trick them into the tunnels and then shell the whole area, but I think there are two things here that are worthy of noting..
One, is that those groups are very experienced in dealing with the IDF and its ways, and generally speaking, if there is something they've learned well from previous wars, is not to trust anything the IDF announces or any similar manoeuvres that easily, considering that in both 2008 and 2014 wars, where there was some sort of a ground invasion. So, in a way, I'm sure they wouldn't move masses quickly into tunnels unless they can somehow verify the news on the ground themselves or account for such attacks, as this has happened somehow before, in 2014 specifically, where whole areas were wiped out just moments before a ground offensive took place, with shelling specifically targeting tunnels in those areas to clear them out or neutralize them, and after days of heavy concentrated bombing, we still saw heavy clashes in those totaled areas and fighters emerging from tunnels in these areas.
Second point is the official announcements from both militant groups and IDF during and after this latest event. Those announcements seem to provide some interesting insights. Firstly, as the heavy bombardment was underway, the groups announced that this was somehow a hopeless show of force and it wont affect any of their capabilities (not an accurate quote but it was not a comment on any ground offensive). And following the bombing, and even before anything was announced from IDF, they followed up with a short statement that they have foiled an attempt to kill hundreds of their fighters and they claimed that the plan had to trick them had failed and this is before the IDF had said anything about the attack.
This is also while they usually announce their deaths or loses as seen in the first day or two when they announced a number of their fighters were killed and some were also missing, which indicated a tunnel attack or something of the likes, but nothing in this case.
And then you have the statements from the other side, the IDF and Bibi's announcements that followed only claimed to have targeted underground structures and a tunnel, without any claim to have tricked or killed hundreds of fighters in a unique or special OP, which is strange for an army eager to find a victory or a major win, specially if planned and executed, and this is while they are usually very quick to claim such attacks, like the one that killed a few of top Hamas leaders in an apartment a few days ago.
This is not to claim or assume anything, I just find those bits and pieces interesting as I try to pass my 2nd day of quarantine :/