Israel begins pumping seawater into Hamas’s Gaza tunnels

Israel’s military has begun pumping seawater into Hamas’s vast complex of tunnels in Gaza, according to US officials briefed on the Israeli military’s operations, part of an intensive effort to destroy the underground infrastructure that has underpinned the group’s operations, reported from The Wall Street Journal.

The move to flood the tunnels with water from the Mediterranean, which is in an early stage, is one of several techniques Israel is using to try to clear and destroy the tunnels.

A spokesperson for the Israeli defense minister declined to comment, saying the tunnel operations are classified.

Israeli officials say that Hamas’s underground system has been key to its operations on the battlefield. The tunnel system, they say, is used by Hamas to maneuver fighters across the battlefield and store the group’s rockets and munitions, and enables the group’s leaders to command and control their forces. Israel also believes some hostages are being held inside tunnels.

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