The US believes that Israeli forces will face unprecedented resistance to ground attacks.
Mahmud Newaz Joy
Saturday November 4, 2023 01:06 PM Last Updated: Saturday November 4, 2023 01:08 PM
Hamas’ vast underground tunnels. Photo: Reuters
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Hamas’ vast underground tunnels. Photo: Reuters
Israel launched a ground offensive against Hamas after almost three weeks of indiscriminate airstrikes. However, it is still running on a limited basis.
According to analysts, the biggest obstacle for Israeli forces in a ground attack is Hamas’ vast network of underground tunnels.
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Hamas attacked Israel on October 7. 1,400 people were killed and more than 5,000 were injured. In addition, Hamas held more than two hostages, including citizens of other countries besides Israelis.
One of the freed hostages compared Hamas’ tunnel network to a spider’s web.
Experts say that the network of Hamas is 10 times more extensive than the tunnel network of Vietnam’s guerilla communist organization ‘Viet Cong’.
Reuters reports, citing sources familiar with the tunnels, that Hamas has built tunnels for various purposes along a 360-kilometer stretch of coastal areas and borders. These tunnels are used for many other purposes including carrying out attacks, transporting essential goods and stockpiling.
Underground tunnel. Photo: Reuters
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Underground tunnel. Photo: Reuters
Israel has recently accused Hamas of building tunnels under Al-Shifa, Gaza’s main hospital, and operating there. They are using this important civilian establishment as a shield.
“Hamas has converted hospitals into their control rooms and hideouts,” said Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari.
He tried to prove it by releasing some pictures and audio recordings. However, Reuters could not verify the authenticity of Hagari’s claim.
Hamas official Ezzat El-Reshiq said, “The statement of the spokesman of the enemy army has no truth, no basis.”
The US believes that Israeli forces will face unprecedented resistance to ground attacks.
A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it would not be possible to defeat Hamas without harming hostages held underground.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the Israelis would face numerous ‘homemade explosives’, various traps and a tiring and difficult experience in the Hamas tunnels.
According to him, the nine-month campaign to liberate the Iraqi city of Mosul from IS was much easier.
Israel has invested heavily in technology to pinpoint the exact location of Hamas tunnels. This includes special sensors called ‘Iron Wall’. Still, the country has not been able to identify and close the tunnels.
After the 2021 attack, Hamas leader Yahya al-Sinwar said, ‘Israel says they destroyed 100 kilometers of Hamas tunnels. I am saying that our tunnels in the Gaza Strip are more than 500 kilometers wide. So even if they are true, it is only 20 percent of the total tunnels.’
Underground tunnel. Photo: Reuters
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Underground tunnel. Photo: Reuters
Security analysts believe Sinwar’s claims to be true, even if they don’t have hard evidence. Although the Gaza Strip is only 40 kilometers long, analysts believe the tunnels could extend much further.
Israel has full control of Gaza’s air and sea lanes. 59 km of the 72 km land border is under Israeli control. It also has a 13 km border with Egypt to the south.
Hamas does not release much information about its tunnels. However, 85-year-old hostage Yosheved Lifshitz, who was released from their hands, said, ‘It is like a spider’s web. There are numerous tunnels. We walked several kilometers underground.’
Hamas believes that while Israel has advanced military technology, it will not be of much use in tunnel networks. Hamas wants Israeli troops to come to the tunnels and confront them. Hamas will have an added advantage in an environment unfamiliar to Israel.
Recently, an Israeli spokesman said, ‘I cannot say clearly how many kilometers the tunnels have been built, but it is not small by any means. This network has been built under schools and residential areas.
Underground tunnel. Photo: Reuters
Underground tunnel. Photo: Reuters
Tags: Hamass underground tunnel city Israels biggest obstacle ground attacks
