The tunnels of Gaza

[Muse]

A simple search turned up this, which appeared before the IDF advanced into Gaza a week or two ago. (it is dated Oct. 17, 2023) It discusses this, includes historical perspective, and the logistics of the conflict:

Underground Nightmare: Hamas Tunnels and the Wicked Problem Facing the IDF - Modern War Institute

If Israel launches a ground campaign into Gaza to clear the dense areas of Hamas military capability—and all indications are that it intends to—Israeli forces can expect to face a wide range of challenges. Some of these are common features of modern urban warfare history, while others stem from...

mwi.westpoint.edu

Here too is a New York Times article on this very topic that popped up as the prominent "lead article." This link should get anybody past the paywall for 14 days, i.e. until Nov. 24, 2023:

The Tunnels of Gaza

A maze of tunnels extends below the Gaza Strip, allowing Hamas fighters to stay out of sight and smuggle weapons and goods.

www.nytimes.com

 

[mikeymikec]

I'm not sure what you're asking exactly. If it's about tunnels in cities in general, that for example AFAIK there is a tunnel network beneath Imperial College in London (UK) which I believe partly served a purpose of delivering some kind of steam-powered energy system for the site. I think it dates back to the start of the 20th Century.

Your article talks about military tunnels being a common theme historically too. One thing your article doesn't seem to be too specific about is whether all the tunnels in Gaza are built by Hamas, but according to the article at least some are.

 

[KMFJD]

interesting tidbit about the soil types in Gaza, those bunker buster bombs are supposedly not that effective in the loess sand

 

[Muse]

I'm not sure what you're asking exactly. If it's about tunnels in cities in general, that for example AFAIK there is a tunnel network beneath Imperial College in London (UK) which I believe partly served a purpose of delivering some kind of steam-powered energy system for the site. I think it dates back to the start of the 20th Century.

Your article talks about military tunnels being a common theme historically too. One thing your article doesn't seem to be too specific about is whether all the tunnels in Gaza are built by Hamas, but according to the article at least some are.

There's much info circulating about those Gaza tunnels but little to nothing being discussed in the media (that I had seen/heard) about similar structures built for warfare purposes elsewhere. So, I wondered, and found those online articles.

 

[KMFJD]

Paris has quite the underground catacombs as well, but i don't recall there ever being huge tunnel networks like in Gaza because there's usually more open space. Maybe the tunnels the British and Germans built during WW1 (but these where used as huge bombs during assault)

Mines in the Battle of Messines (1917) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

There's Tora Bora as well in Afghanistan

Battle of Tora Bora - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Ah found this as well, but it was never completed

Project Riese - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org