The next big challenge for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will be working to uncover and destroy the Gaza metro system of tunnels built by the Hamas terrorist organization. Israeli intelligence estimates there are between 200 and 300 miles of tunnels in the coastal strip – crisscrossing beneath homes, streets and empty fields.
The IDF has invested heavily in new technologies and surveillance systems to identify and locate these underground networks, including the use of advanced sensors, drones, and satellites. But the construction of these sophisticated passageways is an ongoing challenge for Israel, and Hamas continues to modify and update their techniques.
To counter these new threats, the IDF has begun to focus on developing a more comprehensive strategy to locate the tunnels and neutralize them. This includes employing “underground robots” which are both able to navigate the passages and patrol them autonomously.
This has been an ongoing process for several years. In 2018, the IDF launched Operation Protective Edge to discover and destroy tunnels that Hamas had built under the Israel-Gaza border. Using a combination of ground troops, reconnaissance, and offensive air strikes, the military destroyed 32 tunnel networks that went into Israel.
In addition, the IDF is currently deploying its latest robot technology to the border between Israel and Gaza, in order to both locate and monitor the subterranean tunnels. These efforts include deploying “smart” sensors underground that can detect vibrations from equipment used to construct and maintain the passages.
The next major challenge for the IDF is in defeating the “Gaza Metro,” an extensive network of tunnels built by Hamas for military, storage and communication purposes. In order to combat this threat, the IDF is looking at developing an automated system that can detect, map and destroy the tunnels in a wide range, identifying them before they are used by Hamas for terror operations.
Ultimately, the IDF will need to remain vigilant and flexible in order to develop effective tools and strategies that can keep pace with Hamas’s construction of its underground network. These will become ever more important as the IDF looks to ensure the safety of Israeli citizens living in the Gaza border region.
