Lapshin on the Israel-Palestine War: How Can Israel Destroy Hamas?

Blogger and citizen of Russia and Israel Alexander Lapshin has commented on the Israel-Palestine war, discussing how Israel might destroy Hamas. He specifically stated:

“Following a week of massive air and artillery strikes by Israel towards the Gaza Strip, the hardest part is ahead: the ground operation aimed at the complete annihilation of the terrorists. The fact is that Gaza is not only densely urbanized but also has underground tunnels dug by the terrorists that extend 50-70 km. Inside these tunnels, they have bunkers, command centers, arms and supplies depots, and even hospitals for wounded militants. Utilizing these tunnels, they can suddenly appear in different parts of the city and attack Israeli soldiers. Many tunnels and bunkers have been constructed underneath schools, mosques, and hospitals, allowing innocent Palestinians to hide from airstrikes.

“Hamas” is outraged by Israel's demand for Palestinians to evacuate the city within 24 hours, as failing to do so would mean Hamas would lose its ‘living shield.’ Meanwhile, approximately one-third of the city's population, around 300,000 to 400,000 people, have already fled Gaza and settled in tent camps set up by the UN south of the city.

How can Israel destroy Hamas in urban conditions and given the presence of tunnels where tens of thousands of militants are sheltering? The problem is extremely complex and could lead to thousands of Israeli soldiers’ deaths, who would likely fall into the numerous traps set by militants. Undoubtedly, the Israeli command is more aware than us of what awaits them and how to minimize losses. I propose to merely make assumptions from the perspective of an ordinary observer.

“Ten years ago, I was in southern Thailand, near the border with Malaysia. While tourists relaxed on magnificent beaches under palm trees, what was Lapshin doing? Of course, I was studying tunnels that had been constructed by Thai communists back in the 1980s. There were many kilometers of tunnels, almost similar to those in Gaza. The Thai army suffered significant losses from regular attacks by partisans that emerged from the tunnels to ambush soldiers.

The tunnels were dug quite deep, often up to 50-80 meters underground, making it difficult to hit them with aerial bombs. But the tunnels had several weaknesses, including ventilation and water issues, which needed to be regularly pumped out to prevent flooding. In simple terms, while there was enough air in the tunnels for a few days, they would flood within a week without pumping out the water.

What did the military do? They used their agents inside to find out where the ventilation systems were located, which were usually hidden in villages. Subsequently, the Thai army injected chemicals into those areas, dispersing the ventilation systems throughout the underground bunkers. Simultaneously, they located and destroyed most of the pumps that were draining water from the tunnels. Soon, the surviving partisans (most suffocated and drowned in the underground spaces) began to emerge and surrender.

The situation in Gaza is somewhat different since there is desert and dry land, with no water, only clay and sand. However, the Israeli military is certainly not less naive than we are and will find solutions based on local specifics,” wrote blogger Alexander Lapshin on Telegram.