The Israeli Air Force has destroyed 150 Hamas tunnels and bunkers. But that merely touches the surface of the task ahead. Hamas leader Yehiyeh Sinwar boasted in 2021 that Hamas has 310 miles of tunnels. According to the Associated Press, “the Gaza Strip itself” is about 140 square miles.
Sinwar continued to boast during Operation Guardian of the Walls, which was launched by Israel in 2021 in response to a barrage of rocket-fire by Hamas:
They started saying that they destroyed 100 kilometers (62 miles) of Hamas tunnels. I am telling you that the tunnels we have in the Gaza Strip exceed 500 kilometers……Even if their narrative is true, they only destroyed 20% of the tunnels.
The expanse of Hamas tunnels give insight into the magnitude of the threat to Israel and also shows what Israel now faces as it moves to destroy these tunnels. Since Hamas is well known to use human shields, the cost in human lives will be large, as the mainstream media continues to incessantly crow about a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with no interest in the threat to Jewish lives and to Israel’s existence.
The IDF says it will not allow fuel into the Gaza Strip, as it says it is used by Hamas to manage the fighting against Israel.
Israel faces the bad publicity of collateral damage boosted by Palestinian propaganda, despite the fact that countless nations have fought wars in the same way yet without the same smears.
On a visit to Israel last December for the Christian Media Summit, a Brigadier General briefed our group about the IDF code of ethics, and an important question asked before any defensive maneuver: “Is the potential collateral damage proportional to the immediate threat?”
Given the ISIS-like modus operandi of Hamas and its goal as indicated in its Covenant, the immediate threat to Israel is undeniable. The slogan of the “Islamic Resistance movement” is identified:
Allah is its target, the Prophet is its model, the Koran its constitution: Jihad is its path and death for the sake of Allah is the loftiest of its wishes.
Other excerpts of the Charter:
- “The Islamic Resistance Movement is one of the links in the chain of the struggle against the Zionist invaders. It goes back to 1939, to the emergence of the martyr Izz al-Din al Kissam and his brethren the fighters, members of Moslem Brotherhood. It goes on to reach out and become one with another chain that includes the struggle of the Palestinians and Moslem Brotherhood in the 1948 war and the Jihad operations of the Moslem Brotherhood in 1968 and after.”
- “Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it”
“IAF strikes 150 Hamas tunnels, bunkers; tanks in Gaza; Gallant: War entered new phase,” by Emanuel Fabian, Times of Israel, October 28, 2023:
Israeli warplanes pounded northern Gaza overnight Friday and on into Saturday, hitting more than 150 underground tunnels and bunkers of the Hamas terror group as tanks and other forces pushed into the Strip in a limited but protracted incursion, the military said.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Saturday afternoon that the war had “entered a new phase,” underlining the stepped-up ground force activity inside Gaza.
Overnight, he said, “the ground shook in Gaza. We attacked above ground and below ground, attacking terrorists of all ranks, in all places.” The war would continue “until further notice,” he added.
Explosions from continuous airstrikes lit up the sky over Gaza City for hours after nightfall Friday. The Israel Defense Forces said a number of Hamas terrorists had been killed in the airstrikes and in several clashes with troops inside Gaza.
Among those killed was the head of Hamas’s so-called aerial array Issam Abu Rukbeh.
A statement from the IDF and Shin Bet intelligence service said that Abu Rukbeh was responsible for managing the terror group’s drones, unmanned aerial vehicles, paragliders, aerial detection systems and air defenses…..
Buraq says
So, Hamas has tunnel vision, you could say!
Phil Copson says
Couldn’t say – but at least some of them have “gone down the tubes.”
bill says
Hamas should realise but they won’t, it is foolish to start a fight that you cannot finish.
From The Other Side of Town says
Jihad has not been seen as one strategic battle that is fought to win. Jihad is randomly un-random. They are playing the long game. And they are playing, primarily, to win.
Lez says
Incredible the planning, complexity and effort put into these tunnels is astronomical.
If the same determination had been directed to (say) building hotels for tourists and machinery for export, the Gazans would be productive, rich and happy.
somehistory says
Yeah, if only they put their brains to good and not evil. But, they never will because islam demands demonic evil actions to go with the demonic evil thoughts and ideas
From The Other Side of Town says
The goal has not been for Gaza to be stable, productive, rich and happy. Gazan Arabs are being used, by other Muslims, as sacrificial pawns in a larger game.
Lez says
Incredible the planning, complexity and effort put into these tunnels is astronomical.
If the same determination had been directed to (say) building hotels for tourists and machinery for export, the Gazans would productive, rich and happy.
abu taleb says
Why do they need to build hotels and machinery when the west gives them tons of money for free?
Walter Sieruk says
The brutal vicious murderous jihadists of Hamas can’t be reasoned with .They cannot and will not respond to the logic of reason. The only lanuage that they are able to understand is that of being on the receiving end of a very strong might power of military might.
As Thomas Jefferson had ,very wisely , written “With every barbarous people…force is law.”
Walter Sieruk says
The government officials of the State of Israel do have a duty and obligation to have the Israeli military force response to those brutal cruel malice =filled murderous jihadists attacks.
For it’s the responsibility of the government of Israel to protect the safety and lives of citizens , especially since that horrendous jihad entity, Hamas, started this war on October 7th by launching violent and deadly Islamic terrorists attacks on the peaceful Jewish people of Israel
So the use of the military force against Hamas is an very important and necessary action of self defence.
As the former US President James Monroe , had rightly and wisely ,in a speech declared “The right of self -defense never ceases . It is among the most sacred ,and alike necessary to nations and individuals.”
Walter Sieruk says
The appropriate ,fitting and right way that this appalling and horrific murderous and destructive jihad entity , Hamas, should be dealt with defeated and even destroyed is to hit it hard , hit it long and keep on hitting it with strong powerful forceful military strikes until it’s unable to raise up again with ts ugly , vicious and deadly jihad Islamic head.
somehistory says
I recall several years ago, Israel destroyed some of the tunnels from which mozlums were attacking Israel. People complained and the destruction stopped, so the mozlums could rebuild.
James Lincoln says
Yes, somehistory.
This time, the entire rats nest needs to be completely cleaned out.
tgusa says
“310 miles of tunnels.”
I bet the dumasses linked all the tunnels. Pump in salt water from the nearby ocean and flush them all out. How long does it take to fill 310 miles of tunnels with water?
HorizonScanner says
>>> My idea exactly! Get it to Gen. Gallant, ASAP! <<<
Woody Woodpecker says
Depends on the diameter and length of the tunnel, on whether or not (and if so, how many) waterproof dividing doors have been installed, and the pumping speed (read: pump capacity, number of pumps and the piping), I’d say. I would suggest closing off all entrances with concrete. Cheaper and faster. ‘Fire and forget’ style. The only thing needed is an inventory of all entrances. Otherwise pump in the hamas fuel reserves and set it alight.
Phil Copson says
Similarly, Israel should seal off the tunnels to Iran’s nuclear facilities. It doesn’t matter how deep they put the facilities – they still have to have tunnels, lifts, shafts etc for access.
These should destroyed by “Grand Slam” earthquake-type bombs or missiles which penetrate deeply into the ground before exploding. The shockwave will collapse the tunnels and shafts.
Alena says
Nice strategy.
James Hoagland says
might agree with this idea after all the hostages are back in Israel.
tgusa says
Thanks for all the input y’all. A writer out of London named Markovsky is calling for the same thing.
tgusa says
General George Patton; “Fixed fortifications are monuments to man’s stupidity.”
Hamas leaders; Yes but we put those fixed fortifications underground General.
General George Patton; Well that’s a whole new twist on mans stupidity that I cannot comprehend.
ceres says
Israel is just the current focus as muslims have been slaughtering jews since their barbaric ideology began. They also slaughtered nearly 300 million people over the years vying with communism as the world’s greates murderers. The sick ideology says KILL until all the religion is allah’s and offers a rape-females in paradise (or young boys with skin like pearls) as the reward for muslims killed in battle. That alone should indicate the vileness of the ideology. I hope Israel hits them hard. I have friends from Nigeria where muslims have slaughtered 67000 Christians in Plateau State in the last 10 years and the world says nothing. The slaughter, rape etc goes on in and outside Islamic countries. Stupidly we let them into our countries where they get a free, easy, life while they build their numbers and infiltrate. Israel is the focus for the minute but we are ALL the focus of their sadism and infidel hatred make NO mistake.
dumbledoresarmy says
Ceres – you mentioned the Mohammedan murders of Christians in Nigeria. Yes. When I read the accounts of the Mohammedan mass-murders/ tortures/ burning pillaging rapes and kidnapping of hostages perpetrated in southern Israel, I immediately thought of the Mohammedan ghazi raids upon Christian communities in central and northern Nigeria. The methods and the atrocities are *identical*.
The other event that sprang to mind the moment I read the first detailed descriptions of the Gazan Mohammedans’ mass-murderous ghazi raid in southern Israel, was… Mumbai 2008.
I have yet to see ANY mainstream media outlet, or ANY western political leader, utter even a word to mention the very obvious parallel – including the nature of the atrocities such as the torture-mutilation-unto death of living victims and gross desecration of dead bodies – between 1/ the murderous Muslim attack on the Jews of southern Israel 2/ the murderous Muslim attack on HIndus … and Jews ! (the butchery of the Jewish Chabad house in Mumbai)… in Mumbai and 3/ the ONGOING mohammedan jihad campaign to kill or drive out every last non-Muslim from central and northern Nigeria (with majority Christian southern Nigeria next in line…the murderous raiding will start there next).
James Hoagland says
source for all this is the Koran. There is a way to defeat Islam/Mohammedanism ideologically my debunking the Koran, revealing the absurdities of Koranic behavior as holy; and pointing out that Mecca historically was not a center of trade and commerce and the place where Islam grew and developed.
jdow says
I remember the post WW-II years from about 1947 on,
I remember the (useless) duck and cover days.
I remember Conelrad messages on the radio. “Tune to one of your local emergency…..”
Of course, I remember JFK’s death.
Of course, I remember the Cuban Missile crisis.
I remember it all. I lived through it all.
I never felt the general sense of doom I feel now. Can Humans grow up, adopt a free cooperative civilization instead of self-destructing? If I was an outsider who’d been watching al this from alien spacecraft I’d have to take the downside on this bet. Since I am stuck here as one of us, I pray to God that humanity can come through this and show the positive promise it has.
{o.o}
Westman says
“Can Humans grow up, adopt a free cooperative civilization instead of self-destructing?”
Darn good observation of something we would like to experience!
We cannot have that experience if the plan for living, the philosophy, the religion, of 20% of humanity is the physical domination and control of the planet. Modern communication, the ME wars, sending Muslims into the West, and the existence of Israel has simply brought that problem to the surface. Islam is only one example of the Real Problem:
A fundamental intrinsic drive of human beings is competition. Maslow’s Hierarchy Of Needs places physical survival (physiological needs) at the base without recognizing it is a competition with nature.
And that explains the phenomenon of sports(physical competition without death), greed, competing nations, and war. There is a minority of humans who are physical competition adverse. Most of the non-Muslim kids on campus and in the streets, demonstrating for Hamas, are not sports followers nor were happy participants in school sports. Yet, I would bet the Muslims demonstrating for Hamas are avid soccer fans. Interesting?
I’ve given up thinking humans can always live in peace. If there were only two humans on the planet – they would argue about something.
“Can Humans grow up, adopt a free cooperative civilization instead of self-destructing? If I was an outsider who’d been watching all this from alien spacecraft I’d have to take the downside on this bet.”
And as far as observing this crazy world from an alien spacecraft, don’t those earthlings claim their religions came from aliens?
I’m with you, hoping humanity survives.
James Hoagland says
first question is do you practice a Faith? One can descend into this frame of mind because there is the absence of Faith. There are religious paths that take one to the higher realms of life that are given to humanity as The Sermon on the Mount, Chapter 16 of the Bhagavad Gita and the writings of the mystics of all religions. I have learned there are two first things: Faith and Courage. Faith in that you need to recognize that God exists and second to choose a path and follow it. In doing that your doubts can be overcome and you might understand that humanity is engaged in a struggle between Light and Darkness.
ceres says
Israel gives these terror muslims/gazans water and eletricity, 1000’s of work permits..and treats them for free in their hospitals. YAHA SINWAR the sadist responsible for the October 7th atrocities, had a LIFE-SAVING BRAIN TUMOUR OPERATION in an ISRAELI HOSPITAL while incarcerated in Israel. He was released in the Shalit deal. As Khalid Sheik Mohammad , interred at Guantanamo said—alla puts our civil liberties/decency to others etc so we can be defeated by the islamists. ie western decency and concern for others makes us weak according to muslims. He also said that when they cut the throat of a Yezidi sex slave and she bleeds out into a bowl, that’s actually an act of worship…….he shows his love for his god. (Dr James Mitchell interegator, interviewed by Mark Steyn-video march 14 2017). Nothing done by others overrides the instruction to kill and the blood lust…when will we learn??
James Hoagland says
We learn by maintaining our Faith and our Divinely inspired behavior AND never loosing our discrimination. What you have described is the behavior of a follower of a demon. Understanding this do not feel compassion for one who does not deserve it!
Billy Corr says
A PEACE PLAN FOR THE MID-EAST
UNDER QATARI SUPERVISION:
1 Israel agrees to release every Arab in Israeli custody who claims political status (supposedly 3 to 4 thousand of these)
2 Hamas releases 2 IDF soldier corpses, assorted fresher corpses, the 2 Israeli mental defectives in Hamas custody and plus/minus 230 hostages of all nationalities . . . every last one
========================================
ONCE THIS HAS BEEN DONE:
3 Israeli Special Forces fly into Qatar and capture / slay the Hamas elite in Doha
4 The Israeli and US Special Forces round up all the Al Thani clan and decide which is the least appalling of the bunch & makes him the Emir under close supervision, with a Sikh or Gurkha Praetorian Guard – – – OR Qatar is simply annexed by Saudi Arabia
5 The IDF / IAF proceed to turn every remaining square meter of Gaza into rubble until all resistance ceases
6 A Saudi / UAE Protectorate is installed to rule over a reconstructing Gaza
OLD GUY says
Oh where oh where did Hamas get the MONEY to build those hundreds of miles of Tunnels?
You don’t suppose our millions of dollars of humanitarian aid to Palestine has gone into tunnel building for Hamas or their leaders pockets? Than again maybe it purchased guns, ammo and rockets to use against Israel and America if they could get it here.
Foreign aid to these countries is supporting terrorism. And probably funding off shore bank accounts for some politicians.