What’s inside the Gaza Strip tunnels?

Beneath the Gaza Strip, the terrorist organization Hamas has built a vast network of defensive tunnels and command centers, ostensibly safe from spying eyes and Israeli airstrikes. In a video released Nov. 22, the Israel Defense Forces spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, gave a rare tour of tunnels under the Shifa Hospital compound—part of Israel’s effort to show the world how Hamas operates behind civilian infrastructure.

How many tunnels are there? Hamas started building its tunnel network after it came to power in 2007, likely using stolen materials. By 2021 it claimed to have built over 300 miles of tunnels in the Gaza Strip—a distance rivaling the length of the New York City subway system. Since Israel began its ground offensive in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, Israeli forces have discovered over 800 tunnel entrances ­hidden under abandoned cars, in residential areas, or under schools and mosques.

What are they like inside? The tunnels are built 65 feet or more underground with reinforced concrete and often have blast doors to withstand explosives. Many have lighting and electricity installed. The main transit tunnels, with arched ceilings 6½ feet high, are wide enough for men to walk comfortably in single file. From the ­transit tunnels, larger tunnels open into compounds with rooms for ­living and working, complete with desks, air conditioning, kitchenettes, cots, and fully plumbed toilets.

What is Hamas using the tunnels for? The terrorists have used tunnels in the north of Gaza to launch attacks into Israel. Tunnels in the south have been used to smuggle goods and weapons into Gaza via Egypt. As the Israeli military has advanced into Gaza, it has found evidence of tunnels being used to store weapons, equipment, and more recently, hostages.

Are the passageways connected to hospitals? While Hamas has flatly denied claims it uses hospitals as a shield for terrorist activities, the Israeli military has found tunnels and compounds under both Shifa and Rantisi hospitals. The tunnels’ electrical and water systems were connected to the hospitals’ infrastructure. Because Israel delayed its ground operations for a month, Hamas had time to evacuate most of its equipment, but in both locations, the military uncovered munitions caches that included automatic rifles and grenades.

Is Israel destroying the tunnel system? The military has moved slowly into the tunnels due to the risk for its soldiers and Israeli ­hostages. Most of the entrances are booby-trapped. The military uses robots to explore newly found ­tunnels and a K-9 unit to sniff out bombs. Once individual tunnels are cleared, specialty teams destroy them with explosives. Israel is also considering pumping the tunnels full of seawater.