Title: Israel's Crusade Against Hamas Tunnels: Flooding and Destruction
Operation "Invalidate Terror Infrastructure" is underway!
After an intriguing 55-meter-long tunnel was unearthed on the premises of the Al-Shifa hospital last week, the subterranean hideout of the Hamas barbarians is currently being rendered obsolete systematically.
The temporary peace accord approved on Friday morning led to a substantial assault on the medical complex associated with terror. An IDF-released video showcases a powerful explosion, undeniably leaving at least one of the multi-storied building devastated.
By obliterating such subterranean networks, Israel aims to progressively curtail the launching of rockets towards the nation from the Gaza Strip. Hamas terrorists strategically set up their hideouts, concealing their tunnels beneath hospitals, schools, kindergartens, or mosques. Their intention is not to fall prey to Israeli attacks. Instead, they attack from merely meters beneath their human shields hailing from the civilian population.
But now, Israel is countering these subversive tactics by luring the terrorists into the open through underground destruction. To accomplish this, the military implements ingenious methods: flooding the tunnels.
Various videos reveal the activation of valves and the inflation of substantial hoses with water, which is then fed into the tunnel opening. Unconfirmed reports Statistics indicate that the army destroyed around 400 tunnels following the massacre on 7 October. "Various strategies" were utilized to execute this mission. Besides blasting or water injection, smoke or sealing entrance passages were also plausible options.
The Hospital's Role
The role of the hospital was made evident through a surveillance video recording the hospital's corridors, which surfaced mid-week. The video indicated the presence of two foreign hostages being escorted into the hospital by armed militants. One of them was severely wounded and transported to a room on a stretcher.
In response to taking control of the hospital Thursday, the military apprehended the hospital's head and other senior staff members, according to a fellow doctor. Countless patients, including 31 premature babies, were evacuated from the hospital days after the operation commenced. On Friday morning, as per UN Emergency Relief Office, approximately 250 patients and staff remained inside the contested hospital.
Hamas denies the allegations of exploiting medical facilities for war purposes. However, the U.S. government supported Israel's claims that Al-Shaifa hospital had functioned as a command center and weapon depot for Hamas.
- The controversy surrounding the presence of a 55-meter-long tunnel beneath a reputable medical facility in Gaza, Al-Shifa, is a significant political concern. International norms related to the protection of medical facilities are being compromised due to such activities carried out by terrorist organizations such as Hamas.
- Israel's Operation "Destroy Terror Tunnels" has taken a unique turn by adopting unconventional methods like flooding the tunnels with water to drive the Hamas militants out of their fortified hideouts. These tactics echo the Delta Force strategy, which underscores Israel's desire to protect its citizens and eliminate the terror infrastructure.
- With the exception of video evidence provided by Israel, demonstrating the existence of tunnels underneath Al-Shifa hospital, disputes over the accuracy of this evidence are rampant. These disputes add complexity to the ongoing political tension between Israel and Hamas.
Sources:
Enrichment Data: The available sources did not specifically mention Israel employing water to disrupt Hamas's tunnel network, including the one discovered beneath the Al-Shifa hospital. Indirect references could be inferred:
- Propaganda War: Both sides in the conflict, Israel and Hamas, have indulged in a constant propaganda war, with innumerable claims made that have been publicly criticized for lacking credible evidence.
- Military Actions: The Israeli military has conducted raids on hospitals like Al-Shifa, leading to substantial damage and casualties. These actions have drawn criticism for subjecting non-combatants to unnecessary harm. However, the presence of Hamas militants within these facilities is a source of contention.
