Hamas has created a unique tunnel system under the Gaza Strip. From there it repeatedly attacks the Israeli troops and fires rockets. This is a special challenge for the army.
A Hamas propaganda video shows two men climbing a ladder out of a tunnel shaft. They crawl across the dusty earth, firing a rocket-propelled grenade at an Israeli tank.
It is unclear when and where the video was taken in the Gaza Strip. But it shows how dangerous the advance is for the Israeli army. Suddenly fighters appear behind the soldiers – Hamas’ tunnel system makes this possible.
In the last major war in the region in 2014, the Israeli army was surprised by the extent of the Hamas tunnels. According to military expert Harel Chorev, things are different now. “I think we are much better prepared than we were in 2014 in terms of the technical capabilities to locate and attack the tunnels. And we have special forces that know how to fight there.”
System hundreds of kilometers long
The shafts are said to be hundreds of kilometers long. According to the Israeli army, they also run under residential areas, hospitals and schools. They are deep enough to survive air raids. The entrances are likely to be secured by booby traps and mines.
The army has recreated houses and tunnels for combat training. And it has upgraded technology, as the researcher from Tel Aviv University in ARD-Interview says. “I know for sure that the Israeli army has developed technology and tactics specifically for fighting in tunnels.” Special technology – according to experts, this includes various robots and specially developed explosive devices that are intended to destroy the tunnels.
“Find and close tunnel entrances”
As former deputy army chief Yair Golan explains on army radio, the soldiers under no circumstances go into the underground shafts. “It would be a fatal mistake to go into the tunnels. It is wiser to find the tunnel entrances, seal them and let in smoke or something else. So that the enemy gets out or gets hurt.”
The tunnels are basically the heart of Hamas. In the sandy soil of the Gaza Strip are command centers, weapons depots, storage rooms and from there many of the rockets are fired at Israel. If the Israeli army wants to destroy Hamas, then it must also destroy the tunnels.
Special unit trained for tunnel combat
For Yoav Gallant, this seems to be central. It is not without reason that the Israeli Defense Minister visited a special unit that is specially trained for tunnel combat – its name: “Diamond”. “We have unique solutions to get to all the tunnels and destroy them underground. Then the terrorists are left with two options: either die in the tunnel or come out – up, die by the fire of our forces, or surrender unconditionally,” Gallant says.
What is not mentioned in the defense minister’s pithy words – it is not just Hamas that is hiding in the tunnels under the Gaza Strip. Many of the abducted hostages are also believed to be there – which makes the Israeli army’s tunnel fight even more difficult.