Detection, Neutralization, and Destruction: The Limits of Israel’s Strategy against Gaza’s Tunnels

Majd Abuamer

Researcher and rapporteur of the Strategic Studies Unit at the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, and Editorial Secretary of Omran Journal. He received a Master’s degree in Political Science and International Relations from the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies and a Bachelor’s degree in Law from the University of Palestine. His current research interests focus on democratic transition, social movements, the Arab state, as well as Palestinian studies.

Ever since taking control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, Hamas has heavily invested in underground infrastructure. It has developed a massive tunnel network that it regards as both an economic artery and a geo-strategy that helps withstand any Israeli attack or siege on Gaza. This tunnel network has thus become central to Hamas’s defensive strategy in resisting Israel and its superior military force. In turn, Israel has made this tunnel network a major target in each of its wars on the Gaza Strip since 2014. This study seeks to understand Israel’s military strategy against the tunnels in Gaza and evaluate its effectiveness. It examines the various Israeli initiatives to tackle the tunnels, including the establishment of special military units, and the use of new technologies to detect, destroy, or neutralize them, outlining the limitations of each of these technologies.

* This study was published in the 15th issue of AlMuntaqa, a peer-reviewed academic journal for the social sciences and humanities. You can read the full paper here.

Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies