In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, Israeli forces are facing significant challenges as they attempt to navigate the underground tunnel network used by Hamas fighters. After encircling Gaza City and cutting it off from the southern part of the Gaza Strip, Israeli troops are yet to launch a serious attack towards the center. However, recent reports indicate that the battle for Gaza City’s tunnels, a crucial aspect of the conflict, has not yet begun in earnest.
Videos and accounts from foreign reporters taken to the outskirts of Gaza City reveal the extensive damage caused by aerial bombardment, artillery fire, and advancing tanks and infantry. The Israeli army’s defensive measures, including tall sandy berms surrounding their encampments, suggest that the advance will be slow and methodical, street by street. The importance of this defensive strategy is to deny Hamas fighters the opportunity for hit-and-run attacks.
To effectively combat Hamas in the tunnels, Israeli forces must employ military practices that have been largely forgotten over the years. One of the key challenges is identifying the countless entrances to the extensive tunnel network, which is believed to stretch up to 500km (310 miles). These entrances are hidden in various locations, including residential buildings, garages, industrial facilities, and even under heaps of rubble. Israeli surveillance, including the use of drones with sophisticated software, has aided in identifying many of these entrances, but the underground routes and junctions remain largely unknown.
Once inside the tunnels, Israeli forces will face further difficulties. GPS positioning devices are rendered useless underground, so they will rely on magnetic sensors and movement sensors to navigate. Night-vision goggles will likely be used to avoid giving away their positions with lights. Communication with surface units will be limited to field telephones, a technology that dates back over 100 years. Soldiers will have to unroll wires as they advance, further slowing their progress.
Israeli forces must also be prepared for opposition within the tunnels. Hamas is known to booby-trap the tunnels with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and observation and detection devices. The tunnels are also lined with wires and cables that carry electricity, internet, telephones, and military lines. Hamas may have the capability to remotely explode charges or ignite incendiary compounds, making the tunnels deadly and difficult to navigate.
Both sides understand the challenges and risks associated with tunnel warfare. While Israel’s technological and weapons advantage is greater on the surface, Hamas aims to deny them the freedom to operate in the tunnels. Israel may resort to using teargas to flush out Hamas fighters, while Hamas may strategically block certain tunnels to impede Israeli progress.
Destroying the tunnels entirely is a difficult task for Israel. While some entrances may be attacked and destroyed, most tunnels have multiple entrances, allowing Hamas to maintain some operational capacity. Israeli combat engineers have tested a “sponge bomb” that can create rapidly expanding foam to block tunnels, but its effectiveness remains uncertain.
Ultimately, Israel’s goal is to destroy Hamas fighters and then demolish the entire underground network. This will be a lengthy and challenging process that could take months to achieve. Winning the underground war is crucial for Israel’s success in the conflict, but it will require significant time and resources.
As the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, the battle for control of the underground tunnels in Gaza presents a complex and formidable challenge for Israeli forces. The outcome of this underground war will have far-reaching implications for both sides and the future of the conflict.
