Operation Atlantis: Israel drowns Hamas tunnels under Gaza using seawater
As previously reported by the Washington Post, the Israelis have deployed at least five pumps capable of forcing hundreds of thousands of liters of seawater underground per hour. These machines are estimated to be about 0.93 miles north of the Al-Shati refugee camp in the northern region of the Gaza Strip.
Jan 31, 2024 | updated: 4:36 AM EST, March 7, 2024
The Atlantis project, which has been planned for several months, involves the Israeli army's intention to cause widespread destruction of cities to deter future reconstruction. This information was publicly admitted by the army in December.
The underground tunnel network carved by the Palestinians throughout the Gaza Strip is so extensive that it is often referred to as the 'metro' in Israel. Many of these passageways are so deep that Israeli Air Force bombings have been unable to cause significant damage to the infrastructure.
This underground labyrinth houses Hamas command centers, weapons storage, and food and water supplies. Lloyd Austin, the head of the US Department of Defense, stated that this tunnel network poses a massive challenge for the Israeli forces.
Gaza's underbelly is sinking as Israel floods tunnels with Mediterranean seawater
New details regarding the IDF Atlantis project were disclosed by the Israeli Defense Forces on Tuesday. The pumping of salt water is strictly conducted along the appropriate tunnel routes and in suitable locations. In a report by The Jerusalem Post, the program's success was highlighted, but it was noted that it's not an ideal solution due to several limitations. It is feasible that the Hamas tunnels are fitted with a flood prevention system, potentially making them resilient to flooding.
The flooding system's effectiveness is best demonstrated near the Mediterranean Sea. However, it's not suitable for regions where flooding could lead to an environmental disaster.
