Dramatic new video reveals Hamas’ biggest advantage against Israel: ‘Tunnel network of terror’
Dramatic new video released by Israel on Sunday reveals how Hamas uses its biggest advantage against the Israeli army — a remarkably complex maze of tunnels — to transport terrorists and weapons across Gaza.
The chilling footage also features Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’ political leader, touting the 300-mile underground network’s sprawling reach and boasting that it is filled with “hundreds and thousands of traps.”
The Israeli Defense Forces, which released the video, slammed the booby-trapped tunnels as a cowardly tactic used by Hamas to hide behind “millions of civilians,” as several of their entrances lie inside homes, schools, mosques and hospitals.
The IDF has vowed to decimate 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 tunnel network of terror,” the IDF said.
The tunnel systems were first discovered in 2006 and were primarily used at the time as a means to bypass the Israeli blockade around Gaza when Hamas first came into power.
Although the secret system brought much needed aid to the more than 2 million Palestinians living in Gaza, they were soon transformed into a military weapon by Hamas to mount attacks against Israel.
Parts of the tunnels can run as deep as 130 feet, allowing members of the terrorist group to find quick refuge from Israeli airstrikes.
The IDF has previously taken journalists on tours of parts of the tunnels it has overtaken, showing them to be sophisticated structures with concrete walls, electricity and carts, according to the Washington Post.
The tunnels are likely where Hamas is holding the hostages abducted during the group’s Oct. 7 terror attack inside Israel, according to Bruce Hoffman, an expert with the US Council on Foreign Relations.
Hoffman warned that the IDF will likely face an onslaught of traps inside the tunnels and may find that even the hostages themselves could be booby-trapped, according to a CFR briefing earlier this month.
Despite the perils, the IDF could deploy a new weapon called “sponge bombs” to turn the tunnels into a huge disadvantage for Hamas.
The new bombs consist of chemical compounds that swiftly expand and harden when thrown, allowing Israeli soldiers to seal off passages in the tunnel.
The device would leave Hamas fighters with no escape and allow Israeli commandos to secure safe routes while searching for hostages, according to reports.
