The US media said that Israel began to "flood the tunnels with seawater" in Gaza, and the Israeli side refused to respond
Wang Zhuolun, Lu Yingxu.
The United States reported on the 12th, citing the United States, that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have begun to inject Mediterranean seawater into tunnels in the Gaza Strip in an attempt to destroy the underground infrastructure network of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).
According to Wall Street**, the "sea water submersion method" is in its early stages and is one of several technical means by which the Israeli army is trying to destroy tunnels in the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli army declined to respond to the report, saying that the Israeli army's operations against Hamas's tunnels were classified. However, Wall Street**, citing Israel**, reported that the tunnel network is vital to Hamas, not only for storing equipment and ammunition, but also as a place of operational command.
Since the start of the Israeli army's ground operation, Hamas has released a number of ** shows that armed men have used tunnels to ambush Israeli tanks, armored vehicles, armored bulldozers, and even sneak attacks on Israeli camps.
Some environmental experts warn that the "sea water flooding law" could have long-term effects on groundwater in the Gaza Strip. If seawater and hazardous substances seep into the aquifer and soil, the foundation of the building may be damaged.
Wall Street** first reported last week that Israel plans to flood Hamas tunnels with seawater. Reports at the time, citing the United States, said that Israeli forces had installed at least five pumps near a refugee camp in northern Gaza, each of which could pump thousands of cubic meters of seawater per hour.
IDF Chief of Staff Hezi Halevi told The Times of Israel last week that it was "a good idea" for the sea to flood the tunnels. He said the Israeli army had many ways to deal with the tunnels found in the Gaza Strip, including blowing them up with explosives, but he "would not give specific details."
According to the Times of Israel, it is unclear whether Israel will use these pumps until all detainees are released. Hamas has previously said it is hiding detainees in "safe places and tunnels."
Two years ago, Hamas claimed to have an "underground transportation network" of more than 500 kilometers in the Gaza Strip consisting of 1,300 tunnels. According to Israel**, this tunnel network known as the "Gaza Metro" extends in all directions, not only the main roads and branches used for the rapid mobility of armed men, but also special tunnels for connecting the Mediterranean.
According to a statement issued by the Israeli army on 3 June, since the start of the ground offensive in the Gaza Strip at the end of October, the Israeli army has discovered more than 800 tunnel shafts and destroyed about 500 of them. According to the Israeli military, some of the shafts are connected to Hamas's "strategic assets" through a network of tunnels.
Some military experts assess that Israeli forces have not yet destroyed most of the tunnels in the Gaza Strip. In addition to the "sea water submersion method", the Israeli army also tried to attack this huge and complex underground network through air strikes, bombs, drones and other means.
Previously, Israel **listed two ** options: one is a multi-purpose bomb produced by the Israeli military-industrial enterprise Elbit, which weighs 250 kilograms, penetrates to a depth of 30 meters or more, and has a high attack accuracy;The second is a tunnel combat robot that transmits images of the depths of the tunnel to the headquarters, and detects and triggers explosives**. Both of the above have been put into use in actual combat.
One of the social **mentioned many times** is the "sponge bomb". According to the British newspaper The Telegraph, this special chemical device in the hands of the Israel Defense Forces can quickly expand into a large sponge-like mass and harden after being put into the tunnel, and then completely seal the tunnel entrance. The Israeli army can use "sponge bombs" to block the tunnels and prevent the armed men hiding in them from escaping. (End) (Special article by Xinhua News Agency).
Note: The author of this article is a Jerusalem-based correspondent for Xinhua News Agency.