IDF vows to destroy Hamas’ 300-mile tunnel network as terrorists boast of ‘thousands of traps’ underground

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Israel warfare 2023

By Ronny Reyes

Dramatic new video launched by Israel on Sunday reveals how Hamas makes use of its greatest benefit in opposition to the Israeli military — a remarkably complicated maze of tunnels — to transport terrorists and weapons throughout Gaza.

The chilling footage additionally options Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’ political chief, touting the 300-mile underground network’s sprawling attain and boasting that it’s stuffed with “hundreds and thousands of traps.”

The Israeli Defense Forces, which launched the video, slammed the booby-trapped tunnels as a cowardly tactic utilized by Hamas to conceal behind “millions of civilians,” as a number of of their entrances lie inside houses, faculties, mosques and hospitals.

The IDF has vowed to decimate the network forward of an anticipated all-out invasion of Gaza to destroy the terrorist group and rescue greater than 200 hostages.

“Destroying Hamas means destroying their tunnel network of terror,” the IDF stated.

The tunnel methods have been first found in 2006 and have been primarily used on the time as a method to bypass the Israeli blockade round Gaza when Hamas first got here into energy.

Although the key system introduced a lot wanted assist to the greater than 2 million Palestinians residing in Gaza, they have been quickly reworked right into a navy weapon by Hamas to mount assaults in opposition to Israel.

Parts of the tunnels can run as deep as 130 ft, permitting members of the terrorist group to discover fast refuge from Israeli airstrikes.

The IDF has beforehand taken journalists on excursions of elements of the tunnels it has overtaken, exhibiting them to be refined buildings with concrete partitions, electrical energy and carts, according to the Washington Post.

The tunnels are possible the place Hamas is holding the hostages kidnapped throughout the group’s Oct. 7 terror assault inside Israel, in accordance to Bruce Hoffman, an skilled with the US Council on Foreign Relations.

Hoffman warned that the IDF will possible face an onslaught of traps contained in the tunnels and will discover that even the hostages themselves might be booby-trapped, according to a CFR briefing earlier this month.

Despite the perils, the IDF might deploy a brand new weapon known as “sponge bombs” to flip the tunnels into an enormous drawback for Hamas.

The new bombs consist of chemical compounds that swiftly increase and harden when thrown, permitting Israeli troopers to seal off passages within the tunnel.

The system would depart Hamas fighters with no escape and permit Israeli commandos to safe protected routes whereas trying to find hostages, according to reports.