Gaza’s tunnel network has played a significant role in inflicting substantial losses in lives and military equipment on Israel, after 100 days of intense battles in what is considered the first tunnel warfare of the 21st century.
The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), resorted to the tunnels after Israel left no option above ground amid the suffocating siege, according to a report by journalist Salam Khader broadcast by Al Jazeera.
Hamas initiated the digging, creation, and equipping of the tunnel network as part of a defensive and offensive combat strategy in preparation for the 21st-century tunnel warfare, drawing inspiration from the Cu Chi tunnels in Vietnam—a historic experience that turned into a real nightmare for the American army.
Israel continues to struggle with the tunnels of Gaza, despite deploying specialized engineering units to deal with them and resorting to various methods to neutralize their threat, including bombardments with bombs capable of penetrating 15 meters of soil.
The report indicates that the tunnels used by the Al-Qassam Brigades are divided into categories: security, assault, defense, supply, and command. Some tunnels reach depths of 30 meters and consist of multiple, well-equipped layers.
The tunnel openings have turned into deadly ambushes for Israeli occupation forces infiltrating various fronts in the Gaza Strip.
It is worth mentioning that the Israeli newspaper “Yedioth Ahronoth” reported the Israeli military was surprised by the extent of the tunnel network in Gaza, which appeared to be about 600% larger than expected.
