The Israeli occupation military's operation that led to the alleged retrieval of a captive from an underground tunnel in southern Gaza underscores a significant challenge facing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's objective to eliminate Hamas: the Strip's "vast and complicated subterranean network" that shelters many of the Resistance's key leaders, The New York Times reported.

On Tuesday, "Israel" claimed that it retrieved captive Farhan al-Qadi from a tunnel in southern Gaza. But two senior officials who requested anonymity due to restrictions on their communication told the newspaper that the Israeli forces stumbled upon al-Qadi while searching for Palestinian fighters within the tunnel network.

This marked the second time in two weeks that Hamas’ network of tunnels has prominently featured in "Israel's" accounts of its captives' recovery attempts, revealing a critical, though largely hidden, aspect of the ongoing war, NYT indicated.

Last week, Israeli occupation forces claimed retrieving the bodies of six captives concealed behind concrete in an underground passage connected to a deep tunnel shaft.

Experts highlighted that these discoveries, nearly 11 months into the war, reflect the intricate and extensive nature of Hamas' tunnel system, which is reportedly hundreds of miles long, as per Israeli, Hamas, and US sources, the newspaper said.

Dan Byman, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, noted that "the tunnels are massive." He added that the war has unveiled two major surprises about Hamas’ subterranean infrastructure: "There are more tunnels, and they are more serpentine than previously believed."

Byman explained that the tunnels provide Hamas with key strategic advantages, allowing them to hide leaders and captives and making capturing these subterranean networks far more challenging for Israeli forces, who are more vulnerable and must advance with extreme caution compared to capturing a structure above ground.

According to the expert, attempts to neutralize these tunnels from above pose additional challenges as big bombs can inflict substantial damage and endanger the captives’ lives.

Related News

Zamir demands Gaza war strategy as rift with Israeli cabinet grows

Bosnian museum donates Haggadah proceeds to Palestine aid

In this regard, James Wirtz, a professor of national security affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School, recalled that the Israeli occupation military has employed various strategies to force Palestinian fighters out of the tunnels, including flooding and sealing them, detonating their entrances, and deploying dogs, drones, and robots to minimize risks to soldiers.

Wirtz described the task as "horrible", adding, "There are turns and side rooms and booby traps. It’s a hard thing to ask a soldier to do."

Israeli security source likens Hamas tunnels to 'spider's web'

Speaking to the Israeli Channel 12, an Israeli Security source labeled the Hamas tunnels in the Gaza Strip as resembling a "spider's web."

The source revealed that despite extensive efforts, Israeli forces have yet to fully understand or control the network of tunnels used by Hamas.

According to the source, Hamas fighters have effectively used these tunnels to launch surprise attacks, managing to disappear underground and strike simultaneously from multiple locations.

The intricate network means that even if one tunnel is severed, others remain operational.

The source also noted that Hamas uses its tunnels to move forces and logistical equipment throughout Gaza, suggesting that dismantling the network and restoring security would require a prolonged and sustained conflict.

Despite 11 months of warfare, Israeli forces still lack comprehensive knowledge of the tunnel system.

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz also reported that the "Atlantis Project", an Israeli military plan to flood Gaza's tunnels with seawater, has been deemed a failure and was abandoned.

Read more: Hamas' power growing; 80% of tunnels in Gaza usable: Foreign Affairs