The labyrinthine network of tunnels and tunnels that Hamas has built under the enclave where it stretches for hundreds of kilometers is described by an Israeli officer as. At the same time, he analyzes without much detail, however, the way in which the Israeli forces try to penetrate it in order to collect as much information as they can about the organization’s activities.

The Israeli army is now moving into the next phase of the war, as the Israeli Defense Minister has said, with forces now focusing on the complex tunnels of Hamas.

In order to traverse these vast tunnels, the Israeli military either uses explosives to map the warehouses, access tunnels and tunnels, or opts for surveillance robots and other remotely operated technology.

The tunnels are the main corridors where Hamas members move. As an army officer told reporters at a briefing at the Zeelim ground forces base in southern Israel, in the Beit Hanoun neighborhood, where Israeli forces were operating, gunmen suddenly stormed in from wells and tunnels, taking the Israeli army by surprise.

“We don’t want to go down there. We know they left us with a lot of side bombs (improvised explosive devices).»the unnamed officer said, according to the Jerusalim Post.

Web of tunnels

Destroying a shaft is relatively easy and quick, the officer said, adding that: “any platoon can do it.”

The Israeli military said last week that so far has destroyed 130 tunnels, but did not give details of the demolished tunnels.

Tunnels are more difficult to deal with, according to the officer. To blow them up, several tons of ammunition are required, which he said are transported by trucks, to blow up a few hundred meters of tunnel.

According to the officer about half of the wells in the Beit Hanoun zone of operation had been destroyed, but he acknowledged that they can be rebuilt.

“It’s hard to say how many tunnels (have been destroyed) because they are all connected» he added.

Hostages in the tunnels

“Sometimes we get indications that it (a target) may be related to hostages. And then we know we shouldn’t attack him unless we get approval.”the Israeli army officer added.

Like much of northern Gaza, Beit Hanoun has been emptied of civilians. “The only population left are the terrorists,” the officer said, adding that sometimes a secondary explosion caused by a tunnel destruction explosion “it will knock down a building a few hundred meters away.”

The officer said it could take months to destroy Gaza’s entire underground network. “I think it’s more complicated than the New York subway,” he said.