The Israeli military is reportedly exploring the use of large seawater pumps to flood the intricate network of tunnels beneath the Gaza Strip, a tactic aimed at flushing out terrorists hiding within, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, citing U.S. officials.
The construction of five substantial seawater pumps, situated approximately one mile north of the Al-Shati refugee camp, was completed in November. Each pump has the capacity to draw water from the Mediterranean Sea, capable of moving thousands of cubic meters per hour, potentially inundating the tunnels within weeks.
While Israel has not yet committed to this unconventional plan, questions linger about its execution, especially concerning the fate of hostages, including Americans, who were taken captive by Hamas during the October 7 attack on Israel and brought to the Gaza Strip.
The report suggests that Israel has identified around 800 tunnels beneath Gaza, used by Hamas for various purposes such as moving fighters, storing weapons, and planning terror attacks. However, Israeli officials suspect that the actual extent of the tunnel network could be much larger.
By adopting a gradual flooding approach over several weeks, Israel aims to provide an exit route for both Hamas terrorists and potential hostages, according to an insider cited by the outlet. However, uncertainties surround the effectiveness of this method due to the unknown details of the tunnels and the surrounding terrain.
An Israel Defense Forces official, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, refrained from commenting on the flooding plan but emphasized the IDF’s commitment to dismantling Hamas’s terror capabilities using diverse military and technological tools.
U.S. officials were reportedly informed of the plan last month, although the proximity of its execution by the Israeli government remains uncertain. Israel has reaffirmed its commitment to persist in its campaign until Hamas is eradicated in Gaza, launching its 10,000th airstrike against the terror group in the Gaza Strip recently.
Israel’s vow to protect civilians while targeting Hamas and its tunnel network underscores the focus on destroying the terrorist organization’s underground infrastructure in a prolonged conflict.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
