Surprising Discoveries
The Israeli occupation army recently might have discovered some surprising discoveries about the tunnels under Gaza. They were shocked by how extensive, deep, and well-built these tunnels were. In fact, one of the tunnels was even wide enough for a senior Hamas official to drive a car through!
Unusual Numbers
The New York Times reported that the Israeli army was amazed by the scope, depth, and quality of the tunnels. Even some of the machines used to build them surprised the Israeli army. They now believe that there are even more tunnels under the Gaza Strip than they initially thought.
Last December, the length of the tunnel network was estimated to be about 400 km. However, the current estimate is between 560 and 750 km. These are unusual numbers for a region that is only 40 km long. It is also estimated that there are around 5,700 separate entrances leading to the tunnels.
Hamas' Fortress
Hamas has invested a lot of time and resources over the past 15 years to turn the Gaza Strip into a fortress. They have used these tunnels as military bases and arsenals, as well as a way to move their forces undetected and protect their leaders.
Underground Nightmare
These tunnels have become a nightmare for the Israeli army. They are the essence of Hamas' ability to survive and pose a threat to Israel's strategic goals in the Gaza Strip. That's why the Israeli army is determined to erase these tunnels.
Two Types of Tunnels
The Israeli army has found two types of tunnels. One type is used by commanders and is deeper and more comfortable. The other type is used by activists and is often shallow.
Explosive Dangers
The destruction of these tunnels is not an easy task. Each tunnel is booby-trapped with bombs hidden in the walls. These bombs are connected to detonation devices that can be activated remotely. If these bombs had exploded, they would have caused great harm.
Long Process
Dismantling the tunnel system could take years. The Israeli army needs to identify and examine the locations of the tunnels before taking action. Previous attempts to flood the tunnels with seawater have failed.
Source: New York Times
