Dec 13, 2023 at 3:59 PM Update: 15 minutes ago
The Israeli military appears to have started flooding tunnels in Gaza. They are said to belong to the Hamas underground network, where, according to American intelligence, weapons and ammunition are stored, among other things.
There are several stories going around, but it appears that the army has started pumping seawater into the tunnels. According to an American official, this is a “start-up phase”, writes CNN.
According to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, the operation is necessary to eliminate Hamas’ tunnel network. “The action focuses on destroying passages and shelters. We hope to drive out Hamas members,” he said, according to The Israel Times.
The water pumps are located near the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City and can pump out tens of thousands of liters of water per hour, according to the newspaper.
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Unclear whether there are hostages in the tunnels
It is not certain whether flooding tunnels will work. The usefulness of the strategy is still being evaluated, according to US intelligence. The Israeli army says it is being cautious and only testing in tunnels where hostages are not being held.
But it is not clear whether people are actually being held captive in the tunnels. About 135 hostages are still being held, but it is not known where.
US President Joe Biden also has his doubts. While the US has always supported Israel, Biden now also says that he is “not sure that there are no hostages in the tunnels.” He did not want to comment further on the operation.
Plans affect drinking water in Gaza
The Israeli army said earlier this month that at least five hundred tunnel shafts in Gaza have been destroyed by explosives, drones and robots, among other things. A total of eight hundred tunnels are said to have been located. Flooding them would be a new tactic to eliminate Hamas fighters and dismantle the tunnel network.
The army’s plans have another effect. For example, environmental experts warn that flooding the tunnels with seawater will affect the quality of groundwater in Gaza. This endangers the freshwater supply in the area.
In addition, seawater can damage the foundations of buildings, writes the Israeli newspaper.
The conflict explained
2023-12-13 14:59:43
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