(Natural News)—The vast and mysterious networks of tunnels in Gaza dug through the years by the militant group Hamas pose a significant challenge for Israel.
The risk of getting bogged down in urban warfare and in Hamas’s tunnel systems has forced Israel to repeatedly postpone its ground offensive on Gaza, with fears rising that such a scenario could damage the prestige of the the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Over the past week, prominent retired American officials have warned Israel against initiating a big ground offensive in Gaza, including retired Army Gen. David Petraeus, who warned that IDF forces could be going into “a very, very tough fight.” He added that the tunnels might have rooms with improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Bradley Bowman, a security analyst based in Washington, said the tunnels could hide enemy forces from soldiers traveling “across the field or into the outskirts of the city.”
IDF spokesman Jonathan Conricus conceded that eliminating Hamas would not be easy because Hamas has efficiently “embedded itself inside and underneath the Gaza Strip,” and that the group has previously utilized its maze of tunnels to stop enemy weapons and hide rockets.
John Spencer, a West Point Modern War Institute expert, said the Hamas tunnel systems are a “nightmare” and that there is currently no solution to the obstacle Israeli forces may face if and when Tel Aviv decides to launch a land operation.
Meanwhile, the tunnels can allow Hamas to carry out surprise attacks against advancing enemy forces, with militants infiltrating behind enemy lines and causing havoc on rearward-facing units with snipers, anti-tank guns and RPG-armed troops. The tunnels can also be used by special small hunter-killer teams to target military forces and evade counterattacks when facing against Israeli troops.
Israeli soldiers pursuing Hamas into the tunnels could also face several time-consuming and hazardous challenges since navigation and communications equipment, along with night vision goggles that depend on ambient light, would not function. Spencer added that in the Gaza tunnels, a lone Hamas defender can take his place in a narrow tunnel and face off against a superior force.
Outside of the tunnels, Petraeus warned that soldiers may still have to clear every building, home and basement in Gaza before being able to push deeper into the Strip.
IDF commanders wary of Hamas fighters
IDF commanders are also wary of the challenges they would face in ensuring battlefield superiority against the estimated 30,000 Hamas fighters in Gaza’s dense urban environment, much of which has already been reduced to rubble, which could be used for ambushes and snipers’ nests from Israeli airstrikes. This could also explain Israeli reluctance about a ground-based operation inside Gaza. (Related: 9 UN workers killed as Gaza Strip suffers from unrelenting Israeli airstrikes.)
In an analysis, the Modern War Institute at West Point said that defenders often hold the advantage in urban conflict.
The paper highlighted that “the advantages provided to a weaker force to occupy urban terrain are great.” A weaker enemy can use the physical terrain for concealment and cover both to fight from and to maneuver.
Tunneling has been a common tactic used by Hamas to smuggle supplies and equipment across the heavily guarded border encircling Gaza for decades. Experts believe that their methods have now advanced to the point where they can now build entire underground networks to quickly move and evacuate fighters and equipment, control underground command posts and operate workshops for the manufacture of weapons.
In 2018, Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the Hamas Political Bureau, claimed that the Hamas tunnel network in Gaza was twice as large as the Cu Chi tunnels the Viet Cong excavated beneath Saigon during the U.S. War in Vietnam.
Hamas’ tunneling initiatives through the Gaza Strip have been significantly revealed in detailed maps based on IDF data. Israeli forces reported that there were at least 100 kilometers (62 miles) of underground tunnels during the 2014 Gaza War.
Additionally, Hamas boasted that it had constructed tunnels with a combined length of at least 500 kilometers (310 miles) in 2021.
Go to WWIII.news for more updates about the Israel-Hamas conflict. Watch the video below for a review of Gaza’s place in Jewish history and the present.
This video is from the Gabe Mondragon channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
- Hezbollah threat in the north delays Israel invasion of Gaza.
- GENOCIDAL: Israeli lawmaker demands deployment of “Doomsday” weapons to annihilate Gaza.
- Israeli military gets “green light” to enter Gaza and begin ground offensive.
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Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
