Israel has begun pumping seawater into Hamas’ tunnels in Gaza to smoke out the terror group’s vast underground network.
Israel is said to have installed at least five pumps about a mile from the Al-Shati refugee camp in the north of the coastal enclave that could move thousands of cubic metres of water per hour, flooding 300 miles of tunnels.
US officials have now revealed that the operation has begun, with the Biden administration being told that it will take weeks, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.
Though this is part of the military strategy to destroy the terrorists’ den, it is reported that many of the Israeli hostages are still believed to be held in these tunnels, New York Post, NYP, reports.
The water from the Mediterranean is one of several measures the Israel Defense Forces is using to clear and decimate the miles of inter-twined tunnels, the NYP sites the Wall Street Journal, whose source is unnamed US officials.
Earlier this month, there were reports that the tactic was under “consideration” after the IDF had built at least five pumps. They were about a mile north of the Al-Shati refugee camp that could be used to draw the seawater to flush out the tunnels.
Related news
- Israel-Hamas war: South Africa tackles Israel over ‘Genocide’
- Israel-Hamas war: 17 British, 14 American nationals feared killed
- Palestine asks UN to request Israel to leave its territory
The flooding began around the time Israel added two more pumps and the IDF conducted some initial tests
A spokesperson for Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant declined to comment, saying the tunnel operations are classified.
The IDF did not immediately respond to a request for comment by The Post early Wednesday.
Last week, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzl Halevi said flooding the tunnels is “a good idea, but I won’t comment on its specifics,” the Times of Israel reported.
In reported recordings between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and released hostages and their families, Israelis angrily told him they feared that the flooding would kill their loved ones, according to the Journal.
