05/12/2023 3:20 am (act. 05/12/2023 3:20 am)
No comments from the Israel Defense Forces ©APA/AFP
According to a media report, Israel is considering flooding tunnels in the Gaza Strip used by radical Islamist Hamas. Israel has installed a large pumping system to flood tunnel systems under the Gaza Strip used by the militant group and flush out fighters, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing U.S. officials.
In mid-November, the Israeli army completed the installation of at least five bombs about a kilometer and a half north of the Al-Shati refugee camp. With thousands of cubic meters of water per hour, the underground network could be flooded in a few weeks. The report did not make clear whether Israel would consider using the bombs before all the hostages were released. Portal was unable to immediately verify details of the report.
Israel’s Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a Portal request for comment. An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) official declined to comment on the plan, but was quoted as saying: “The IDF is working to destroy Hamas’ terrorist capabilities in various ways and through various military and technological means.
Radical Islamist Hamas has been using an extensive tunnel system for military purposes for years. During their major attack on Israel, fighters reportedly used this to enter Israeli territory. According to Hamas, there are still hostages kidnapped in the tunnels. The Israeli army also discovered a tunnel under Al-Shifa Hospital in the Gaza Strip. Hamas has denied that its tunnel system used by the military also runs under civilian facilities such as hospitals.