Western military sources: Israel has already begun the process

[Uncle Joe]

Link to tweet

[tritsofme]

1. Good, the tunnels of death must be destroyed.

[Uncle Joe]

3. Your post reminds of a quote

“Water does not resist. Water flows. When you plunge your hand into it, all you feel is a caress. Water is not a solid wall, it will not stop you. But water always goes where it wants to go, and nothing in the end can stand against it. Water is patient. Dripping water wears away a stone. Remember that, my child. Remember you are half water. If you can't go through an obstacle, go around it. Water does.”
― Margaret Atwood, The Penelopiad

I'm wondering if any of those "tunnels of death" are connected to tunnels of life?

[TexasDem69]

5. Any evidence that tunnels built by Hamas terrorists

Are “tunnels of life”?

[Uncle Joe]

10. I imagine we will find out after Christmas if they allow the press in. n/t

[TexasDem69]

13. You could have just said "no"

That’s the correct answer

[Uncle Joe]

20. I know that Hamas hasn't built all the tunnels nor are they likely

to be able to keep 2.3 million desperate people out under such extreme circumstances with no safety or shelter on the surface.

It also seems to me that many would be connected to survival tunnels for Hamas's efficiency of having to do less digging. The people would be driven underground with no airspace or privacy constantly patrolled by Israeli drones even before October 7th.

Now if only 25% of the civilian population make it underground, that's over half a million people.

The flooding is supposed to be completed by December 25th per the OP so we should know after Christmas, how many people are under there.

[David__77]

2. I wonder if these tunnels are connected to one another.

I would think that they would be "autonomous" in the sense of not directly forming an uninterrupted network.

[Uncle Joe]

4. For efficiency sake, I think they would be connected. n/t

[TexasDem69]

6. Hamas terrorists are nothing if not efficient

In their attempt to eradicate Israelis

[Uncle Joe]

8. It's just less tunnel to dig whether "tunnels of death" or tunnels of life,

depending on your reality.

[TexasDem69]

15. I'd think we have the same reality

Tunnels dug by Hamas terrorists are tunnels of death.

[Uncle Joe]

21. Not all the tunnels were built by Hamas. n/t

[underpants]

7. When I first heard of this I thought - pretty smart

It’s going to flush out (yeah I know) more fighters into the street. The danger is that hostages are in there. It totally alters their operation but more exactly logistics and defense.

[Uncle Joe]

9. I agree and if you lived in Gaza, under constant bombardment, sniper fire, no shelter on the surface,

nothing but violence death and destruction, and no safe haven, where would you take your family?

Now with approximately 2.3 million civilians living in Gaza if only 25% have taken for the tunnels, that would be over a half a million people.

[NutmegYankee]

11. I'm not sure civilians can use the tunnels.

Hamas keeps them out.

[Uncle Joe]

14. I imagine those tunnels in many cases are combined for efficiency sake with

preexisting tunnels, Gaza has plenty.

Gaza; with no free air space was always patrolled by Israeli drones, and I believe this helped to drive Hamas and the Palestinians underground, it's pretty vast network for such a small condensed area with tunnels dating back to ancient times.

With all the desperation going on, I can't imagine Hamas could or would keep them all out, this is more likely to be the case if the attack by Israel on its's scale was totally unexpected by Hamas,

If Hamas knew precisely what was coming, that would increase the chances of them keeping all the Palestinian civilians out.

[tritsofme]

12. Hamas official Marzouk: 'Gaza tunnels built to protect Hamas, not civilians'

https://m.jpost.com/middle-east/article-770918

[Takket]

16. if all those tunnels are built under buildings...

isn't the erosion going to cause structural collapse for many buildings?

[Silent3]

17. Yes, that's a major concern. n/t

[Red Mountain]

18. The water isn't going to wash away the concrete

and steel used to build them. The salt might cause some corrosion long term but the Palestinians should have plenty of time to fill them in after the conflict ends and the water recedes.

[Takket]

19. are the tunnels that well build? I was picturing something just dug through the dirt/soil

answering my own question lol

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/12/israel-hamas-war-gaza-tunnels-pose-deadly-challenge.html

Wow these are well built.

[Uncle Joe]

22. It may ruin Gaza's freshwater for generations depending on the amount of seawater used.

Flooding Hamas tunnels could harm Gaza’s freshwater for generations, warns academic

https://www.timesofisrael.com/flooding-hamas-tunnels-could-harm-gazas-freshwater-for-generations-warns-academic/