Israel has developed specialized equipment and tactics for targeting tunnels as part of its Gaza offensive, making this phase unique in terms of warfare. We spoke to an IDF officer about this complex field.
These devices include ground and aerial sensors, wire-free communication systems that work underground, ground-penetrating munitions and even robots designed to map tunnels.
What happened?
Hamas’ tunnels in Gaza pose one of the greatest challenges to Israel in achieving a decisive defeat during this most deadly of conflicts between Israelis and Palestinians – even during Israel’s nearly four-decade occupation period prior to Hamas taking over from Palestinian National Authority-run enclave in 2007. They remain an integral feature of life there even following Hamas taking control in 2007.
An IDF engineer officer told Newsweek he was surprised at how advanced their network had become, having expected something simpler.
The IDF confirmed Thursday that its commandos were searching Al-Shifa Hospital, which Israel alleges is being used as a military base and contains an underground tunnel network. But the Israeli military has provided no proof of tunnel discovery there despite hundreds of patients and staff remaining inside at any one time – raising questions over Israel’s intelligence operation as it shows just how difficult Middle Eastern politics are for military experts with decades of experience to understand.
sea water
Tunnels provide Hamas fighters a means of moving underground without drawing Israeli air power’s attention, as well as acting as hiding spots for group leaders. To combat this threat, IDF forces have made its destruction one of their top priorities in Shujaiya.
However, care must also be taken to avoid civilian damage. While the IDF claims it has filled all tunnels with sea water in order to render them inactive, there’s no certainty all have been submerged – leaving open any possibility for use for military purposes if even one remains accessible.
Kusovac of the IDF stated that army regulations require tunnels be inspected by bomb experts prior to opening them; this process may take hours; during which time terrorists could have moved, possibly into another tunnel entrance or set new bomb traps that delay their efforts at destruction by delaying IDF efforts to destroy these tunnels.
underground escape routes
One week into Israel’s Gaza offensive, it’s already evident that Israel miscalculated both Hamas’ capabilities and their own defense capacities. A full accounting of Israel’s intelligence failure will take months or years; but as scholars of terrorism, armed conflict, and military strategy, we can identify several gaps which may recur in future confrontations.
Israel may have miscalculated how extensive Hamas had dug under its mosque in Jenin refugee camp to create its underground tunnel network, leading fighters out through lower levels of al-Ansar mosque during Israel’s two-day raid of Jenin refugee camp with drones and missiles, yet still managed to flee through escape tunnels built beneath al-Ansar mosque.
Hamas uses underground escape routes as part of its defensive lawfare strategy, enabling it to remain mobile even when besieged or cornered, providing the means for indefinite survival. Both the Army and joint force should consider them when planning against competent, well-armed hybrid adversaries in future conflicts.
Gaza metro
IDF soldiers are aware of Hamas’ extensive tunnel network, often referred to colloquially as the Gaza “metro.” The vast underground labyrinth provides Hamas with access to move personnel and equipment as well as store weapons, ammunition, rockets and supplies; communicating with headquarters without being targeted by Israeli drones or aircraft, while protecting itself from drones or aircraft surveillance.
IDF guerrilla warfare strategy relies on small hunter-killer teams armed with rifles, sniper rifles, antitank munitions and rockets that can quickly move between prepared attack positions armed with rifles, sniper rifles, antitank munitions and rockets, then quickly return to their shelters. Additionally, the IDF has developed equipment and systems specifically for tunnel warfare such as ground penetrating radar and drilling technology, underground radio systems working underground as well as night vision goggles as remote or wire controlled robots designed to map and explore tunnels without risk to soldiers’ lives.
Under densely populated urban areas, however, tunnel networks may exceed Israel Defense Force’s abilities and make a ground campaign against Hamas more complex than originally anticipated.
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