Hamas Building Tunnels Into Israel

The Wall Street Journal reports that Israel has discovered the first Hamas-built tunnel into Israel from the Gaza strip since the end of the 2014 Operation Protective Edge where Israel conducted in incursion into the Strip in order to capture and destroy the tunnel network. Soon after its discovery, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) destroyed the tunnel.

Hamas has constructed a series of tunnels linking the Gaza Strip with the Sinai Peninsula, but there have been few found leading into Israel. This discovery may signify a potential coming conflict between Israel and Hamas.

The discovery of the tunnels should come as no surprise, as Israeli citizens and officials reported in February that they could hear digging going on under their homes. Israeli military chief of staff reported in February that, “Hamas was investing considerable resources in rebuilding tunnel structures.”

As previously mentioned, this is not the first time Hamas has attempted to enter Israel through the ground. During the 2014 war between Israel and Hamas, the terrorist organization had reportedly able to get eight-tenths of a mile into Israel.

During the 2014 war, Hamas was able to construct up to 31 tunnels. Israel was able to destroy all of them by the end of the war, but this tactic allowed some Hamas fighters to enter the country, killing multiple Israeli soldiers.

Hamas’s military wing, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, warned of future attacks against Israel, and stated, “This is nothing compared with what we have been preparing for the enemy.” Hamas has been able to launch several attacks since the 2014 war, but their effect has been minimal on Israeli security. If the terrorist organization were to succeeed in reestablishing its tunnel network into Israel, there could force an Israel response similar to the one in 2014.

Hamas is a Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. Founded in 1987, the organization’s primary goal is to bring about the destruction of Israel. To better increase its ability to combat the Israelis, Hamas established itself as one of the major political parties in the Palestinian territories, and since 2007 it has been dominated politics in the region.

While the IDF prepare for a potential incursion from the Gaza Strip, they also have been continuing to fight Palestinian attacks against Israeli and Western citizens. Since October 1, 2015, Palestinian terrorists have launched over 270 attacks inside Israel’s border. The attacks have generally consisted of shootings, stabbings and vehicular attacks. YNet News reports, “Twenty-nine Israelis and four foreign nationals were killed in the attacks, while some 250 additional Israelis were wounded.”

At the same time, a bus bombing , it was reported in Jerusalem, wounded 21 people. This was a similar tactic used by Palestinian terrorists in the second Palestinian uprising from 2000-2005. There has been no claim of responsibility, but it is suspected Palestinian terrorists are behind the bombing.

With Israel facing threats multiple threats they have sought out U.S. funding to go towards rooting out Hamas tunnels, with Defense News reporting that Israel has already invested over $60 million in anti-tunneling technology in the past five years.

This expenditure demonstrates the degree to which the Israelis view the Hamas tunneling network as a real threat to the countries safety. As Israel continues to innovate to disrupt and prevent terror attacks, Palestinian terrorist groups will innovate as well, along with returning to tried and true methods, as demonstrated by today’s bombing.