Hamas's largest tunnel is close at hand, but the Israeli army has never noticed it, where has the intelligence services gone?
In understanding the background of this event, we cannot help but be reminded of the old saying: "The most dangerous enemy is often the one who is underestimated." This statement is vividly reflected in the recent experience of the Israeli military. Recently, the Israeli military discovered a tunnel dug by Hamas on the Israeli-Gaza border that was 4 kilometers long and 50 meters deep. The discovery was not only shocking, but also raised questions about Israeli intelligence.
Hamas's discovery is undoubtedly a huge wake-up call for the Israeli military. The tunnel does not lead directly to Israel, but it is strategically located, less than 400 metres from the Erez crossing in northern Gaza to Israel, and just a few hundred metres from an Israeli military camp. What's even more surprising is that this tunnel has air conditioning and an electrical system inside that is large enough for large vehicles to pass through.
Hamas used the tunnel to launch a major attack on October 7, and the success of the attack exposed serious failures by Israeli intelligence. The threat was not even perceived by Israeli intelligence until the tunnels were made public. Questions have been raised about what is happening to Israel's intelligence services
Israeli military spokesman Dinard explained that the entrance to the tunnel is cleverly designed and discreet, located under a garage, allowing it to avoid drone and satellite surveillance, which adds to the secrecy of the tunnel. In addition, Hamas has invested enormous resources in the construction of tunnels, including millions of dollars, hundreds of tons of cement, and a lot of electricity.
The attitude of the intelligence services to the enemy is also part of the problem. They misjudged Hamas's strength and level of threat, even when in the weeks leading up to the Hamas attack, when grassroots sentinels spotted Hamas conducting drills to attack Israeli territory and take hostages, their superiors ignored it.
This series of events led directly to the collapse of confidence in Israeli intelligence. Despite the Israeli military's Mossad, one of the world's four largest intelligence agencies, and 24-hour drone and satellite surveillance, they have not been able to stop Hamas from digging such a massive tunnel. This not only has a direct impact on Israel's security situation, but also raises an urgent need for the future direction and effectiveness of the intelligence community.
Hamas's successful excavation of the "biggest tunnel" not only reveals the failure of Israel's intelligence services, but also serves as a profound wake-up call for security defenses. As the ancients said: "Know yourself and know your opponent, and you will not be defeated in a hundred battles." The mistakes of the intelligence services remind us that contempt for the enemy and overconfidence in one's own abilities are often the shortcut to defeat. The incident also underscores the importance of constant vigilance and a deep understanding of adversaries, as well as the indispensable role of intelligence agencies in the field of modern security.
This incident also brings us to a deeper thought: in a changing world, intelligence agencies must constantly adapt and update their strategies and technologies. Hamas's authentic discovery is not just an exposure of a security vulnerability, but a lesson in adaptability and innovation.
Hamas's ability to dig such a complex system of tunnels under the nose of the Israeli military is partly a reflection of a traditional mindset of Israeli intelligence that ignores the possibility of non-missionary means. In the context of modern warfare and security, traditional methods of military force and intelligence gathering may not be sufficient to deal with complex and ever-changing threats. Therefore, for the intelligence service, the ability to innovate and adapt to the new situation has become crucial.
At the same time, this incident also reflects the limitations of technical surveillance. Even the most advanced drone and satellite surveillance technologies may not be able to fully expose such a hidden structure underground. This underscores the importance of human and ground intelligence, as well as maintaining an emphasis on traditional intelligence methods while relying on technology.
Further, this incident reminds us that security is not just a military and technical issue, but also involves a wider range of political and social factors. Hamas's ability to use tunnels to carry out attacks stems in part from its ability to support and conceal within local communities. Therefore, intelligence work requires not only a focus on the military capabilities of a hostile force, but also an understanding of its roots in the social, cultural, and political environment.
In conclusion, the discovery of Hamas's tunnel system is a multifaceted event that reveals the complexities and challenges of intelligence work in the modern world. It reminds us that intelligence agencies must constantly learn, adapt, and innovate in the face of evolving security threats. Only in this way can we better protect our country and people and ensure that we are not caught off guard by threats that lurk in the shadows.