Israel Admits Only 25% of Hamas Tunnels Destroyed in Gaza War
Israeli Army Expresses Concern Over Hamas Rebuilding and Expanding Tunnel Network Amid Ongoing Military Campaign.
Watan-Israel’s official broadcasting authority reported Sunday that the Israeli army has destroyed only 25% of Hamas’s tunnel network since the beginning of the ongoing war on Gaza, which has lasted over a year and a half. The report also highlighted rising concerns over Hamas’s continued reconstruction of the tunnels.
Quoting unnamed Israeli military sources, the report stated that they are “worried about the rebuilding and expansion of tunnels in Gaza.”
The broadcaster added that “Hamas continues to construct new tunnels and expand existing ones.”
It also noted that IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi met on Friday with four released hostages: Liri Elbag, Rumi Gonen, Omer Shim Tov, and Sasha Trubanova.
Israel Struggles to Eliminate Hamas Tunnels as Fighters Rebuild and Strike from Underground
The former hostages reportedly told the Chief of Staff that, while held underground, they could hear Israeli soldiers speaking Hebrew above them and the sounds of tanks and explosions as Israeli forces operated nearby.
Despite over 18 months of military operations, the report confirmed, “the Israeli army has so far succeeded in destroying only a quarter of Hamas tunnels in the Gaza Strip.”
Military officials reportedly expressed alarm at Hamas’s ability to repair and extend its tunnel network.
They also described fighters emerging from tunnels to plant explosives and fire anti-tank missiles at Israeli troops before retreating back underground, according to the same source.
