What’s happening
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) recently confirmed their efforts to neutralize the Hamas tunnel network beneath the Gaza Strip by employing a strategy that involves flooding the tunnels with large quantities of water. This tactic had been rumored prior to the official confirmation by the IDF on Tuesday.
Why it matters
By targeting the system of tunnels used by Hamas to move fighters, store weapons, and coordinate attacks against Israel, the IDF is directly combatting the group’s infrastructure. The use of water-based methodology constitutes a technological and engineering innovation in handling the threat imposed by Hamas’ covert underground system. These efforts reflect the broader strategy of the Israeli security establishment to combat terrorism emanating from the Gaza Strip and protect Israel’s sovereignty.
The strategy in detail
The water-flooding method was carefully evaluated and tested to preserve the region’s groundwater, only targeting suited tunnel routes. This Israeli plan represents a collaborative success, spawning from analysis of soil characteristics and aquatic systems in the region. It’s a part of various methods the IDF uses, alongside air strikes and technological operations, all with an eye on thwarting Hamas activities both above and below ground.
Context and impact
This IDF operation comes in the shadows of an October 7 attack, where approximately 240 hostages were taken by Hamas to the Gaza Strip. Although over 100 hostages were released in a November cease-fire, the incident further emphasized the persistent possibility of aggressions instigated by Hamas against Israel. Concurrently, Israel contends with international scrutiny concerning collateral damage ensuing from their counterterrorism operations.
Ongoing measures and progress
The scaling of the tunnel network by Hamas is alleged to have consumed enormous resources, calculated by IDF to be thousands of tons of concrete and metal. These tunnels not only facilitate terror operations but also fortify Hamas’ subterranean logistics capability. Despite not disclosing the exact number of tunnels flooded or the number of arrests or fatalities, the IDF acknowledges significant progress in undermining the tunnel network’s function.
The broader fight against Hamas
Beyond the flooding of tunnels, Israel persists in its highly proactive defense policy, intersecting a range of approaches aimed at pre-empting and hindering terrorist activities, which crucially includes fortification against cyber-based threats, enhancing air defense, surface-based engagements, and intelligence operations.
Report contributing sources:
The initial tipping point for the escalated actions against Hamas tunnels was provided by Fox News with Michael Dorgan spearheading this coverage. Chris Pandolfino also contributed to the reporting.
This story was first published on foxnews.com.