Underground warfare: Hamas tunnels in Gaza
In the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, attention often turns to airstrikes and ground clashes. However, there is an invisible yet crucial aspect of this war: Hamas’ underground tunnels. These tunnels are used by the Palestinian Islamist group for various activities, ranging from weapons smuggling to infiltrating activists into Israeli territory.
The Hamas tunnels, also nicknamed “the Gaza subway” by the Israeli military, are a complex network of underground passages that stretch for kilometers. Some of these tunnels go to a considerable depth, sometimes reaching up to 30 or 40 meters underground. This allows militants to move discreetly and change positions without being detected by Israeli airstrikes.
The construction of these tunnels requires significant manpower and resources. Tunnels are often built using materials such as reinforced concrete, making them resistant to bombing. They are also equipped with ventilation systems, electricity and even telecommunications. Some tunnels are so large that they can accommodate vehicles and serve as hiding places for rocket launchers.
The importance of these tunnels is undeniable. They have been used by Hamas to carry out attacks against Israel, notably during the 2014 war, where militants managed to infiltrate Israeli territory using these underground passages. Since then, Israel has stepped up efforts to locate and destroy these tunnels, but tracking them remains difficult because Hamas knows their location well and intelligence about their network is limited.
The destruction of these tunnels is a major issue for Israel in its fight against Hamas. Not only do they represent a direct threat by allowing Hamas to carry out attacks on its territory, but they also contribute to the smuggling of weapons and the strengthening of the military capacity of the Islamist group. The destruction of these tunnels is therefore a crucial aspect of Israel’s military strategy.
However, underground warfare is not limited to destroying tunnels. Hamas also used these crossings to spread its propaganda and strengthen its control over the population of Gaza. The tunnels serve as caches to store weapons and supplies, but they are also used to conduct intelligence and recruitment operations. Their destruction is therefore not only a matter of security, but also a means of destabilizing Hamas’s power structures.
In conclusion, the underground war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza is an invisible but crucial battle. Hamas’ tunnels pose a direct threat to Israel’s security and are an essential tool in the Islamist group’s strategy. The destruction of these tunnels is a major issue for Israel in its fight against Hamas, but this cannot be accomplished without precise knowledge of their location and network. Underground warfare is therefore a critical aspect of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that requires special attention.