A dramatic new video released by Israel on Sunday reveals how Hamas is using its biggest advantage over the Israeli military – highly complex tunnels – to transport terrorists and weapons across Gaza.
The chilling footage also features Yahya Sinwar, the political leader of Hamas, touting the reach of the 300-mile underground network and boasting that it is filled with “hundreds and thousands of traps.”
The Israel Defense Forces, which released the video, slammed the undercover tunnels as a cowardly tactic used by Hamas to hide behind “millions of civilians,” as some of their entrances are inside homes, schools, mosques and hospitals.
The IDF has vowed to destroy the network ahead of an expected all-out invasion of Gaza to destroy the terrorist group and rescue more than 200 hostages.
“Destroying Hamas means destroying their terrorist network of tunnels,” the IDF said.
The tunnel system was first discovered in 2006 and was mainly used at the time as a way to bypass the Israeli blockade around Gaza when Hamas came to power.
Hamas has turned a 300-mile network of tunnels under Gaza into a well-oiled system for moving weapons and terrorists.REUTERS Yahya Sinwar, the political leader of Hamas, claims there are thousands of stealth traps under Gaza to target Israeli forces. IDF/X
While the secret systems brought much-needed aid to the more than 2 million Palestinians living in Gaza, they were soon turned into military weapons by Hamas to launch attacks against Israel.
Some of the tunnels can run as deep as 130 feet, allowing members of the terrorist group to find immediate cover from Israeli airstrikes.
The IDF has previously taken journalists on a tour of the section of the tunnel it intercepted, showing it to be a sophisticated structure with concrete walls, electricity and cars, according to the Washington Post.
At least some of the tunnels are said to have entrances by schools, civilian homes, mosques and hospitals – creating a scenario in which Hamas knowingly sacrifices Palestinian civilians to further its cause. IDF / X A Hamas fighter stands in one of the tunnel rooms in this undated photo. IDF/X
The tunnel is likely where Hamas held hostages kidnapped during the group’s October 7 terror attack in Israel, according to Bruce Hoffman, an expert with the US Council on Foreign Relations.
Hoffman warned that the IDF would likely face ambushes in the tunnels and might find that the hostages themselves could be trapped, according to a CFR briefing earlier this month.
Despite the danger, the IDF could use a new weapon called a “sponge bomb” to make the tunnel a major vulnerability for Hamas.
The tunnels are where Hamas weapons are stored and where hostages are believed to be held.IDF / X The network can run as deep as 130 feet, allowing terrorists to evade airstrikes. IDF/X
The new bomb consists of a chemical compound that quickly expands and hardens when thrown, allowing Israeli soldiers to seal off passages in tunnels.
The device would leave Hamas fighters without escape and allow Israeli commandos to secure passage while searching for hostages, according to reports.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
