The Israeli Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, recently informed reporters in Tel Aviv that he expects the next ground attack in Gaza to be a lengthy and tough process, highlighting the difficulty of eliminating Hamas's subterranean tunnel system. In describing the invasion's complexity, Gallant said it "will take a long time."
Hurdles to Tunnel Destruction
In a report by The Hill, Gallant said that the attacks will likely lead to a new period of less intense conflict as Israel eliminates "pockets of resistance." He showed an overhead shot of what he claimed to be a tunnel shaft constructed near a hospital and said that such tunnels often have their origins in residential neighborhoods. There was no way to confirm these assertions.
Despite being called Israel's "hidden frontline," practically nothing is known about Hamas's tunnel network. Israel has stated its intention to eliminate Hamas and rescue captives in the wake of the terror group's deadly strike earlier this month, making the tunnels a significant obstacle to overcome.
Israel has significant challenges in preparing for a land assault on Gaza. These include the Hamas' extensive tunnel network and its strategy of putting up launch locations in residential buildings and hospitals.
On the other hand, Hamas has dismissed Israel's claim that it has command centers buried under hospitals in Gaza and deemed it "baseless," as reported by The Times of Israel.
According to a statement released by Izzat al-Rishq, a member of the militant organization's political bureau, "These lies represent a prelude to a new massacre against our people, greater than the one of the al-Ahli Baptist Hospital." This refers to the explosion at the al-Ahli Baptist Hospital on October 17, believed to have been caused by a misfired Islamic Jihad rocket that Hamas has blamed on Israel.
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Constant, Worsening Assaults
The Health Ministry in Gaza, which is guided by Hamas, reports that hundreds of people have been killed by Israeli airstrikes in recent weeks. American officials have expressed concern about the death toll, but the ministry has since provided a comprehensive list of the thousands of Gazans they believe were killed in the attacks.
Hamas has also conducted a number of airstrikes on Israel, albeit many of these attacks have been blocked by Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system. However, on Friday, October 27, one rocket struck a Tel Aviv apartment complex, injuring three people, Aljazeera reported.
Hamas launched an unexpected assault on Israel's southern border on October 7, sparking the current war and killing at least 1,400 people. It is estimated that 229 hostages were seized.
