Israel is considering flooding Hamas’ vast network of tunnels beneath the Gaza Strip with seawater pumped in from the Mediterranean Sea.
The operation is intended to drive out fighters hiding inside the terror group’s subterranean passageways, according to a report citing U.S. government officials.
In November, Israel constructed five seawater pumps near the Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza. The machines are capable of moving thousands of cubic meters of water per hour and could flood the tunnels within weeks, reported The Wall Street Journal.
The reaction from the White House was mixed, with some officials fearing the impact on any hostages stored in Gaza. Others said they continue to back the Netanyahu government’s efforts to destroy the tunnel system.
Israel says Hamas uses the tunnel system to store weapons, hide its leaders and shuttle terrorists among the battlefield.
On Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces said that since their ground offensive, they’ve discovered more than 800 tunnel shafts in the Gaza Strip. The military is destroying them by setting off explosives or sealing openings.
“The brigade has located and destroyed more than 30 shafts until now in cooperation with other units,” Col. Yaniv Barot, commander of the IDF’s Kfir Brigade, said on the army’s Telegram social messaging page. “The cooperation with the air force is close and is very significant for operational success. We learn, improve and refine our capabilities every day, and we will continue to do so.”
• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.