Posted on 01/30/2024 7:13:19 PM PST by Uncle Miltie
The Israel Defense Forces said Tuesday that it had been flooding some tunnels in the Gaza Strip with seawater, confirming what had been an open secret for several weeks.
Several IDF units and officials at the Defense Ministry jointly developed “several tools for injecting high-flow water into Hamas tunnels in the Gaza Strip,” the military said in a statement, adding that it is “part of the variety of tools the IDF has for dealing with tunnels.”
The IDF clarified that not all tunnels were being flooded, as the process, which includes attaching pipes and pumps to the shafts, was not suited to all the tunnels and could severely damage some areas.
Before it floods tunnels, the IDF carries out “professional and comprehensive” preemptive checks, including an analysis of the soil and water system in the area, to ensure groundwater is not contaminated, the army added.
Other methods for destroying Hamas’s tunnels include aerial attacks, underground maneuvers and special operations.
A trial run of the flooding method was successful in mid-December as the IDF warned of “new combat methods” to deal with terrorists hiding underground.
Israeli soldiers operate at the entrance to a tunnel in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip in an undated photo released by the military on January 30, 2024. (Israel Defense Forces)
At the time, IDF Spokesman Real Adm. Daniel Hagari was asked about concerns that flooding tunnels may harm hostages being held by Hamas in the tunnels. He responded by saying that the army was operating based on intelligence on the location of hostages and would not take any deliberate steps that may harm them.
Earlier this month, senior Israeli defense officials estimated to The New York Times that Hamas’s tunnel network runs 350-400 miles long, much more than previously believed. The tunnels are believed to be accessed by some 5,700 shafts.
The IDF said Hamas had used more than 6,000 tons of concrete and 1,800 tons of steel and likely invested tens of millions of dollars into the project.
Since launching a ground offensive in the wake of the October 7 massacres, in which Hamas-led terrorists killed some 1,200 people and took 253 hostages, Israeli forces have worked to destroy the tunnels, uncovering more and more of the Gaza-ruling terror organization’s underground network.
An official told the Times that IDF troops were more likely to find tunnels running below areas with schools, hospitals or mosques, and that it could potentially take years to dismantle the network.
IDF 646th Brigade commander Col. Elad Shushan (R) inspects a Hamas tunnel in the central Gaza Strip, January 14, 2024 (Lazar Berman/The Times of Israel)
A Wall Street Journal report on Sunday said that up to 80 percent of the tunnels were still intact after close to four months of fighting.
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and other terror commanders are thought to be hiding underground, according to Israeli officials who said that the Gaza terror chief is believed to be in a command center in a tunnel under Khan Younis, along with some of the hostages.
It is believed that 132 hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7 remain in Gaza — not all of them alive — after 105 civilians were released from Hamas captivity during the late November truce. Four hostages were released prior to that, and one was rescued by troops. The bodies of eight hostages have also been recovered and three hostages were mistakenly killed by the military.
The IDF has also confirmed the deaths of 25 of those still held by Hamas, citing intelligence and findings obtained by troops operating in Gaza.
To paraphrase a old Bill Cosby sketch “how long can you tread water, ha,ha ha!”
CC
It would be more expensive, but a gasoline / air mixture might be more effective.
Flooding “could severely damage some areas.”
Gee, what a shame that would be. It might undermine buildings and they couldn’t rebuild there. I repeat, what a shame.
Let’s see if ham floats?
Excellent !
Hope they shot anything that crawled out looking like muzz.
Napalm would have been good too.
My understanding is that hamass doesn’t want a temporary ceasefire because they don’t have all the hostages , that’s why they don’t want to do the negotiations in steps. They are trying to prolong this so international pressure gets to Israel
This is what I’m hearing. Not sure how credible though
By the way those 2 babies and the mother are dead as are a lot of not most of the hostages
Too bad they couldn’t toss in some sharks with the seawater.
With frickin’ laser beams attached to their heads?
Pour gasoline down there, let the fumes circulate for a bit, then shoot a rocket in. Same thing on a smaller scale does wonders for fire ant nests.
Bacon should be enough reason for anyone to leave Islam. Of course, the IDF won't do that. LOL
Just lettin' the Palis bathe and relax with a nice swim afterward.
Hamas invested? Why do I feel like it’s my tax dollars that were invested in this chicanery?
Maybe if they didn’t want them flooded, they shoulda never dug them in the first place.
Not like Hamas carried out environmental impact studies before digging them.
You know, I am really tired at armchair referees suddenly being interested in creating new rules after their team is losing, to hamstring the other team.
Phuc that noise.
From the river(and tunnels) to the Med, all ham-ass should be dead!
When filled, overpressurize it to see what building start leaking water from tunnel entrances.
Another good news day.
Hey IDF: Remember, “There’s always room for Jello!” (Don’t eat it, just mix it in.)
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