Middle East Conflict: Israel Tests Flooding of Hamas Tunnels with Seawater
Amidst calls for an immediate ceasefire from the United Nations due to the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, Israeli forces are reportedly testing the flooding of Hamas tunnels using seawater. The US media, specifically CNN and The Wall Street Journal, announced this development earlier this week.
According to these sources, Israel aims to use seawater to decimate the vast network of tunnels built by the Islamist group Hamas. The tunnels, which span more than 500 kilometers, are suspected to house many of the still-missing Israeli hostages.
The Israeli military and its Chief of General Staff, Herzi Halevi, have touted the idea of flooding the Hamas tunnel system with seawater as a viable solution, given the extensive nature of the underground infrastructure.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden has expressed uncertainty about the effectiveness and impact of this method on any potential hostages within the tunnels. He emphasized the gravity of each civilian death as a tragedy, regardless of the circumstances.
The Israeli airforce has also recently attacked positions of Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Syrian armed forces in retaliation for rocket and mortar shelling. Internationally, Canada has voiced support for a permanent ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza, alongside calls for urgent reconciliation efforts.
However, critics accusingly label Israel's tactics as "cowardly" and genocidal, focusing on the devastating humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. The global community has raised concerns over the attacks on civilian infrastructure, hospitals, and the siege of Gaza.
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While seawater flooding is proposed as a tactic to eliminate Hamas tunnels, its effectiveness is debated and varies based on sources. Erik Prince suggests implementing a 12,000 horsepower turbine-driven pumping system with water saturation methods to ultimately render the tunnels uninhabitable. Despite efforts, attempts to flood the tunnels have failed, with Israeli forces admitting that most of the tunnels were not destroyed, even where troops had been stationed for extended periods.
Alternatives to seawater flooding include a duck impoundment method, in which water is pumped onto the surface to potentially fill all tunnels. However, this method may not target specific tunnels, and the Israeli military's primary aim is to locate and eliminate hostages within the tunnels.
International responses to this tactic are mainly focused on the humanitarian crisis and the alleged genocidal nature of Israeli tactics in Gaza. Critics contend that the Israeli military is primarily targeting civilian infrastructure and utilizing indiscriminate airstrikes, rather than engaging in genuine combat with Palestinian fighters. Organizations such as Peace Action of Wisconsin demand an end to US military and intelligence support for Israel, citing international laws and the Genocide Convention.
Palestinian resistance organizations like Hamas continue to employ tunnels and other tactics in their operations against Israeli forces. Despite challenges posed by Israeli tactics, these groups remain resilient and have successfully fired rockets and executed ambushes, adapting to changes in the conflict.
