To understand why these tunnels have become such a hot-button issue, one need look no further than a video released by Hamas by Tuesday. That video shows a group of fighters exiting such a tunnel and attacking an Israeli military installation. They appear to kill at least one Israeli soldier, though the combat footage is chaotic and not entirely clear. The fighters also make off with an X-95 rifle, a sophisticated machine gun which is used by the Israel Defense Forces.
One can see why the tunnels have become such a focal point for Israeli leaders. They allow Hamas to bypass Israel’s border defenses to literally burst out of the ground to stage surprise attacks that are unpredictable in scope and location.
Robust Israeli defenses, from the construction of the security wall to the Iron Dome missile system, have mostly succeeded in preventing attacks within Israel proper. The tunnel system is the first time in recent years that Israeli forces are facing a weapon against which they have no immediate response — and one that leaves many Israeli civilians terrified that they could be the next targets.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member