Israel's Plan for Hamas Tunnels in Gaza: Pumping Water from the Mediterranean Sea

The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, December 4, that Israel intends to fill Hamas tunnels beneath the Gaza Strip with water pumped from the Mediterranean Sea to "eliminate the terrorists present in the tunnels." According to the report, American officials stated that Israeli defense forces set up five large water pumps near the Al-Shati camp in Gaza City last month, which can pump thousands of cubic meters of water per hour, potentially filling the tunnels within weeks and turning them into aqueducts. These officials say that Israel consulted with the U.S. about this plan last month, but no decision has been made regarding its implementation. The Wall Street Journal reported that opinions within the Biden administration regarding this Israeli plan have varied; some officials have expressed concerns about the plan, while others support Israel's efforts to destroy the tunnels and have no objections. Potential damage to groundwater and soil in Gaza, should seawater infiltrate, as well as the presence of hazardous materials in the tunnels, are among the concerns raised by a group of experts and American officials regarding Israel's plan to flood Hamas's underground tunnels in Gaza. Since the onset of the war with Hamas on October 7, Israeli officials have emphasized the destruction of this "terrorist" group. Alongside the ground assault in northern Gaza, Israel has showcased various images of the deployment of Hamas's "terrorist" units and military equipment in underground tunnels and their connections to public places such as schools and hospitals. Israel has discovered 800 entrances to Hamas tunnels beneath Gaza. Israeli forces have arrested the head and several doctors of Shifa Hospital. Verification | More fake news about the Gaza war. The Israeli army discovered a "55-meter fortified tunnel" beneath Shifa Hospital.