Inside the Disquieting Labyrinths: A Glimpse into Hamas Tunnels

CNN's national security analyst, Peter Bergen, suggests that the Israeli offensive targeting the tunnels built by Hamas in Gaza is a direct response to the October 7 terror attack in southern Israel. It is suspected that Hamas is using these tunnels to house fighters, weapons, and an unknown number of hostages, as claimed by the Israeli government.

Peter Bergen

CNN

One expert on the tunnels is Dr. Daphné Richemond Barak, who wrote "Underground Warfare," a book, that until three weeks ago, was of interest largely to students of military history.

A professor based at Reichman University in Herzliya, Israel, specializing in government, diplomacy, and strategy, she is the founder of the International Working Group on Subterranean Warfare.

Daphné Richemond Barak

Courtesy Daphné Richemond Barak

During the Vietnam War, the Viet Cong extensively utilized tunnels to conceal themselves and engage in combat against US troops. Similarly, in World War I, the British launched large-scale attacks against the Germans from tunnels. For instance, at the Battle of Messines in Belgium in 1917, approximately 10,000 German soldiers lost their lives due to a British tunnel-assisted assault. In 2013, Richemond Barak embarked on writing her book after the discovery of a sophisticated cross-border tunnel dug by Hamas. This tunnel, measuring about a mile in length and reaching depths of up to 60 feet, originated from the Gaza Strip and extended into Israeli territory.

In the past ten years, she has conducted thorough research on the tunnel systems of Hamas and the underground network constructed by Hezbollah. Understanding the latter will be crucial if the ongoing exchanges of fire between the Iran-backed militant group and Israel escalate into a full-scale war along Israel's northern border with Lebanon.

Peter Bergen: What is the experience of being inside a Hamas tunnel like? How does it feel? What is the scent like?

Daphné Richemond Barak: Once inside, you are enveloped by a damp, pitch-black, alarming, suffocating atmosphere, where the uncertainty of what lies ahead is constant.

Additionally, the nights can turn exceptionally frigid, causing a suffocating sensation due to the limited air circulation. For individuals planning to spend an extended period of time in such conditions, the presence of oxygen becomes imperative, particularly for soldiers. Moreover, certain tunnels require individuals to lower their posture as they lack adequate height. Upon swift entry into these tunnels, there is a complete loss of spatial orientation, making it challenging to discern the entry or exit points. This quick disorientation and confusion prove troublesome for many individuals.

In addition to the claustrophobia, you lose your sense of time, so you might feel like youve been there for two hours, but its only really been 20 minutes.

A Hamas fighter appears inside an underground tunnel in Gaza in 2014.

Mohammed Salem/Reuters/File

Bergen: How does Hamas communicate within these tunnels? It seems that radio communication and similar methods would not be effective.

Richemond Barak: Obviously, cell phones are not an option. This poses challenges for Hamas who rely on these tunnels for communication between their members. It also presents challenges for the IDF (Israel Defense Forces). If they enter the tunnels, how do they ensure communication between the underground units and the forces on the surface?

Bergen: Tell us about the history and functionality of the Israeli tunnel training facility.

Richemond Barak: Following the impactful 2014 Operation Protective Edge in Gaza, during which Israel engaged in a 50-day campaign against Hamas involving airstrikes and ground raids, the issue of underground tunnels was recognized as being of strategic importance.

Israeli soldiers ventured into Hamas tunnels during Operation Protective Edge without proper training or equipment, leading to combat within the tunnels. Consequently, as a direct response to the operation, Israel implemented various measures aimed at enhancing tunnel detection techniques and providing comprehensive training in subterranean settings.

They established highly skilled elite units proficient in all facets of subterranean warfare. Additionally, they initiated fundamental training for soldiers in the art of underground combat, equipping them with the knowledge to navigate or eliminate tunnels, as well as the necessary tools required for such missions. One must be ready to face not only a distinct environment but also a unique style of combat.

The IDF utilized simulators that required individuals to don virtual reality goggles, transporting them into a virtual tunnel. However, this experience does not compare to actually being inside a tunnel. To truly comprehend it, one must physically immerse oneself in a real tunnel. Inside, one of the challenges faced is decision-making. Should you encounter a door, what is the appropriate action to take? Should you breach it? How should you breach the door?

In 2017, Israeli soldiers utilized virtual reality battlefield technology during a training exercise to accurately simulate Hamas tunnels at a military base in Petah Tikva, Israel.

Bergen: What's the rationale behind constructing tunnels?

Richemond Barak: Tunnels require significant time and resources to be built. The process of excavation is time-consuming and demands utmost secrecy regarding their locations. Consequently, a substantial investment is made to construct these tunnels. When you enter these tunnels, particularly the Hezbollah tunnels located near Israel's northern border, the magnitude of this investment becomes strikingly evident, given the tough rocky terrain that must be excavated.

Tunnels played a crucial role in the captivity of Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier held hostage by Hamas from 2006 to 2011. Could you elaborate on the significance of these tunnels in his capture, as mentioned in your book?

Richemond Barak stated that Hamas used smuggling tunnels to capture Shalit, which was unexpected as the tunnels had not been utilized for this purpose prior. Israel was taken by surprise and subsequently recognized the need to prioritize monitoring these tunnels, as the abduction of an IDF soldier is a major strategic event. Hence, Israel had to release approximately 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in order to secure Shalit's release. Given this, Bergen suggests that the Israelis are now concerned about the possibility of these tunnels being used to abduct more soldiers.

Richemond Barak: Without a doubt, kidnappings of soldiers are always seen as a significant strategic event in Israel. Therefore, any further abductions would have a profoundly detrimental impact at this crucial juncture.

Bergen: To what extent will the tunnels contribute to the outcome of this conflict?

Israel recognizes the importance of neutralizing or dismantling Hamas' underground tunnel network, where they store weapons and command their operations. While complete elimination may be unachievable, it is crucial to deliver a significant blow to their capabilities, surpassing the impact of Operation Protective Edge. Hamas is well-acquainted with this terrain, allowing them to navigate the tunnels with ease. Similar to ISIS tactics in Mosul, Iraq, and Raqqa, Syria, who resorted to underground warfare against coalition forces, Hamas has also shifted their fight below ground.

However, in order to accomplish the strategic goal of eradicating Hamas' underground military infrastructure, an above-ground incursion is not the appropriate approach.

Bergen: Does Israel employ canine units to navigate tunnels?

Richemond Barak: Yes, dogs are trained to go into this environment.

Bergen: What about robots?

Richemond Barak: A necessary characteristic for such a robot is the capability to navigate through damp terrain, as tunnels typically contain water at their base. Additionally, it is crucial for them to have the ability to ascend ladders or staircases.

Bergen: Are there any other potential alternatives that could meet these requirements?

Richemond Barak advises against using high-pressure water to clear the tunnels due to the potential collapse of their structures. He highlights that regular flooding may not have the same detrimental effect, as some water can be absorbed by the ground. Considering the possibility of civilians and hostages being present in the tunnels, Barak emphasizes the need to prioritize their evacuation. He cautions that if individuals are inside the tunnels, clearing them becomes more challenging and suggests avoiding the use of high-pressure water in such situations.

Bergen: What if the war expands, what about Hezbollah's tunnels?

Richemond Barak: Consider Operation Northern Shield as an example of the challenges in detecting tunnels. This was Israel's 2018 initiative to uncover the cross-border tunnels constructed by Hezbollah.

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Connect with us on Twitter and Facebook. As Israel significantly enhanced its detection techniques, a contrasting terrain challenge emerged for Hezbollah. The organization had to tunnel through solid rock, unlike in Gaza where the soil is softer.

It took Israel six weeks to detect six tunnels, despite the absence of hostilities. Even with intelligence, precise location narrowing, and access to advanced tunnel detection methods, the process of locating tunnels remains time-consuming.