Undeterred by closures, Hamas still boasts of tunnel advantage
Despite setbacks, Hamas has been digging more tunnels and continues to flaunt them as a strategic weapon against Israel in propaganda videos.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Hamas’ military and political leaders constantly emphasize the importance of the tunnels that have become Hamas' main weapon against Israel in the Gaza Strip. Other weapons, such as rockets, have proven to be less effective, and Hamas' dependence on the tunnels is clear from the decline of the arms smuggling activity after the closure of the tunnels between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.
Now, Hamas members are digging new tunnels and restoring old ones that were destroyed during the 2014 war on Gaza.
Ten members of Hamas’ military wing, Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, were killed in three separate incidents of tunnels collapsing in late January and early February, in the east of Khan Yunis and in Gaza City's east and southwest.
On Jan. 29, speaking to thousands of mourners at the Great Omari Mosque in Gaza City for the funeral of seven al-Qassam Brigades fighters killed, Ismail Haniyeh, the deputy chairman of Hamas' political bureau, stated that the tunnels have become a strategic weapon.
