The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are planning a major ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, but they face a significant challenge in the form of underground tunnels. These tunnels serve as a major source of support for the Hamas militant group, allowing them to hide and launch surprise attacks on advancing IDF troops. The IDF’s assessment indicates that Hamas has an extensive tunnel network consisting of 1,300 tunnels covering a distance of 500 kilometers.
This network is considered one of the largest of its kind globally and poses a substantial challenge for the IDF. These tunnels, measuring just 2 meters wide and 2 meters high, are believed to house hostages taken by Hamas. Originally constructed for smuggling goods from Egypt, these tunnels are now used by Hamas to hide operatives, and leaders, and store weapons and supplies.
The IDF has “bunker buster bombs” designed to destroy these tunnels, but the dense civilian population in the Gaza Strip makes their use challenging. Nevertheless, the IDF is well-trained in underground warfare, with specialized units, sensors, and robots to navigate and combat this threat effectively.