Taking out Hamas' million-dollar 'root' tunnel is game changer, analyst says

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) released a video showing what it describes arsenic 1 of Hamas’s "most complex" underground infrastructures extending beneath the confederate Gaza metropolis of Rafah. 

According to the IDF, the seven-kilometer-long "root tunnel" runs astir 25 meters underground, contains astir 80 rooms and was utilized for bid operations, weapons retention and sheltering Hamas operatives. 

The video shared connected X connected Nov. 20 travels done reinforced factual passageways and ample chambers, showing the sophistication and standard of Hamas’s underground network. 

The Israeli subject claims the passageway originated beneath a United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) compound and stretched beneath civilian sites.

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"IDF troops uncovered 1 of Gaza’s largest and astir analyzable underground routes, implicit 7 km long, ~25 meters deep, with ~80 hideouts, wherever abducted IDF serviceman Lt. Hadar Goldin was held," the station read.

Israeli analysts accidental the demolition of this passageway marks a strategical stroke to Hamas and "paves the way to its defeat."

"The demolition of this passageway arsenic good arsenic galore others similar it oregon similar… arsenic good arsenic different panic facilities pushes Hamas to the edge," said Professor Kobi Michael, elder researcher astatine the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) and the Misgav Institute.

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The IDF uncovered 1 of Gaza's largest underground Hamas infrastructures, stretching 25 meters heavy beneath civilian sites, including mosques and schools successful Rafah.

"It is 1 of the longest and [most] analyzable tunnels that person been discovered, but it is not the lone one," helium told Fox News Digital.

Michael explained that Hamas’ basal tunnels signifier the backbone of its underground warfare system. 

"This is an illustration of a basal tunnel, a strategical 1 that feeds galore maneuver tunnels and is utilized for strategical purposes [such] arsenic bid and control, limb storage, manufacturing platforms of weapon[s] and strategical logistics," helium said.

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"Such a passageway is usually manned by hundreds of militants and commanders."

The IDF believes this peculiar passageway web whitethorn person been connected to the country wherever Lt. Hadar Goldin, an Israeli worker abducted during the 2014 Gaza war, was held captive. Hamas returned Goldin’s remains earlier this period – aft much than a decade. 

The tunnel’s vulnerability sheds caller airy connected the grade of its underground operations.

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Israeli forces destroyed a large Hamas passageway strategy successful Rafah connected to the country wherever Lt. Hadar Goldin was held, marking a strategical stroke to the militant group's capabilities.

"I person nary thought astir the outgo but if you instrumentality into information the magnitude of the gathering materials, labour and facilities and its length, it is simply a substance of millions of INS," helium claimed. "Hamas chose routes nether delicate civilian and humanitarian facilities successful bid to forestall the IDF from attacking the tunnel."

As Israel continues operations successful Gaza, the demolition of Hamas’s passageway networks remains cardinal to its strategy to dismantle the group’s subject capabilities and forestall aboriginal attacks.

In 2014, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said helium wanted to destruct the tunnels, which Hamas militants utilized to infiltrate Israeli territory, "with oregon without a ceasefire."

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According to a 2023 probe by Reuters, Hamas had said it had been utilizing the tunnels to fell hostages seized successful its Oct. 7 onslaught connected Israel.

Israel’s subject said its crushed forces had uncovered astir 1,500 Hamas tunnels and shafts passim the Gaza Strip, per the report.