The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have declared that they have reached the outskirts of Gaza City and are preparing to enter the city. This marks a significant development in the military campaign against Hamas fighters, as it will now take place in a densely populated urban environment with both above-ground buildings and an extensive network of tunnels below.
Up until now, Israel’s campaign against Hamas has primarily been conducted from the air, utilizing laser-guided bunker-buster bombs designed to penetrate deep underground. However, on October 29, 2023, the IDF reported that its troops had attacked Hamas gunmen in a tunnel, resulting in the death of several fighters. Hamas later released a video showing the same attack from the perspective of one of its fighters.
On November 5, 2023, Israel reported that three Hamas fighters had emerged from a hidden tunnel and ambushed Israeli troops, surprising them from what they had believed to be the front lines.
Having studied tunnel warfare in Iraq and analyzed historic battles such as the Battle of Stalingrad, it is evident that tunnel warfare diminishes the advantages typically enjoyed by a more advanced attacker and provides an advantage to the defenders hidden underground.
Reports from various sources, including Israeli and Hamas officials, suggest that Hamas has constructed an elaborate underground city fortified with strong defenses beneath Gaza. Hamas’ political leader, Yehia Sinwar, claims that the group has built 310 miles (500 kilometers) of tunnels beneath the Gaza Strip. Hostages from past conflicts have provided eyewitness accounts of being held in this vast underground complex.
The Israeli military alleges that Hamas has constructed these concrete-reinforced tunnels using construction materials stolen from international donations meant to aid the people of Gaza. Israel claims that many tunnel entrances are hidden among civilian buildings such as schools, mosques, and hospitals. In 2014, Israeli forces discovered a tunnel entrance hidden in a washing machine in a Palestinian home.
According to reports, Hamas fighters have lined the tunnels with transport rails to move rockets to hidden firing pads. The tunnels also reportedly contain sleeping areas, ventilation and resupply shafts, medical facilities, command centers, storage areas for food, fuel, weapons, and ammunition, as well as manufacturing facilities for rockets. The tunnel network is allegedly interconnected by a wired telephone system and protected by mines and booby traps.
Israel has previously encountered these tunnels. In 2013, Israeli troops unearthed a large invasion tunnel that extended nearly three-quarters of a mile (1 km) inside the Gaza border and was 72 feet (22 meters) deep. During the 2014 ground invasion of Gaza, Israeli troops fought in and destroyed some of these tunnels, but they faced difficulties in locating and destroying them.
Since then, Israel has established a specialized tunnel-warfare unit called Samur, which is trained to fight underground. The unit has developed sensors, ground-penetrating radar, and specialized weapons to detect and destroy tunnels. They also use military dogs trained to detect explosives and operate robots equipped with cameras to explore tunnels and neutralize booby traps.
However, despite their preparations, some experts remain skeptical about the effectiveness of Israeli troops storming these tunnels. As Israeli forces prepare to enter Gaza City, they will likely face a dangerous battle not only above ground but also below, as they navigate the complex tunnel network built by Hamas.
This article was written by Brian Glyn Williams and originally published on The Conversation.
