Last month, the Israel Defense Forces set up five sizable water pumps close to the al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City. Their goal is to pump thousands of cubic meters of water every hour into the tunnels that Hamas uses. Israel has presented the concept to the US and is awaiting permission at this time. The goal of the IDF is to eliminate militants and destroy Hamas' subterranean network. Nonetheless, the Biden administration is hesitant because of worries about possible Israeli hostages in the tunnels. On the other hand, some US officials back Israel's efforts to destroy Hamas.
Environmental concerns are raised by the flooding tunnels in Gaza because they may harm the aquifer and soil, causing toxic compounds to influence the land and building foundations. Given the lack of information available, the research highlights the uncertainty surrounding the efficacy of pouring seawater into the tunnels. Soldiers who discovered approximately 800 underground shafts in Gaza—of which roughly 500 were destroyed—disclosed the IDF's plans. Some of the tunnels were situated in residential areas close to sensitive locations, such as schools.
Over a distance of 300 kilometers, the network of reinforced concrete, electrical power, and communication facilities is known as the Hamas tunnel system. They can accommodate small parties and store supplies. Over several years, Hamas extended the network, which was initially utilized for smuggling and concealment. One of the tunnels was used by militants to explode a bomb beneath an Israeli military installation in 2001. The tunnels were expanded by Hamas after they took over Gaza in 2007. Because these facilities are undetectable by conventional GPS and surveillance technology, Hamas is able to carry out operations with minimum intervention from Israel.