Tuesday, December 7th, 2021
High-tech wall against Hamas tunnel
Israel’s “iron wall” underground is ready
To get from the Gaza Strip to Israel, Hamas often uses underground tunnels. But that should now be the end of it. After four years of construction, a new barrier separates the two areas. The wall runs both above and below ground and has the most modern technology.
After around four years of construction, Israel completed a 65-kilometer underground wall along the Gaza Strip. It is intended to completely prevent attacks through tunnels by Hamas, which is ruling in the Palestinian Territory. The Israeli Defense Ministry announced that the system, which is equipped with sensors, also includes a more than six-meter-high above-ground safety fence, a sea barrier, radar systems, cameras, self-firing systems and guard rooms.
Defense Minister Benny Gantz said the barrier robs the Islamist Hamas of its ability to penetrate into Israel. It is an “iron wall” between Hamas and the residents of the Israeli border towns on the edge of the Gaza Strip. According to the information, more than 1200 workers were involved in the construction. Around 220,000 tons of concrete and 140,000 tons of iron and steel were used.
During the 2014 Gaza War, militant fighters succeeded several times in entering Israeli territory through attack tunnels. During the operation, Israel’s army demolished many of these tunnels.
According to aid organizations, the roughly two million people in the Gaza Strip live in very poor conditions. Hamas forcibly seized power in 2007. Israel then tightened a blockade of the coastal area, which is supported by Egypt. Both states justify the measure with security interests. Israel, the EU and the USA classify Hamas as a terrorist organization.