From Le Figaro
Published 1 hour ago, updated 1 hour ago
Hamas has built a vast network of underground galleries where fighters, weapons and supplies are hidden. This “city beneath the city” represents the greatest challenge to Israel’s ground offensive. RONEN ZVULUN / Portal
Five in number, each of these pumps could move thousands of cubic meters of water per hour from the Mediterranean into the tunnels, flooding them within weeks.
According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Israel has completed assembling a seawater pumping system that could flood Hamas’ vast network of tunnels beneath the Gaza Strip in an effort to drive Hamas militants from their underground hideout out of order. The risk is to jeopardize Gaza’s water supply, argue American officials quoted by the newspaper.
The WSJ states that these pumps are located about 1.6 kilometers north of the Al-Shati refugee camp and that their assembly is expected to be completed by mid-November. Five in number, each of them could transport thousands of cubic meters of water per hour from the Mediterranean into the tunnels, flooding them within weeks.
The article does not specify whether Israel plans to resort to this tactic before releasing all the hostages remaining in Hamas’s hands, although the Palestinian group says many of them are being held in tunnels. According to the newspaper, Israel informed Washington about the existence of the weapon last month but made no decision about its use.