[News Terms] 'Gaza Metro' Critical to Success of Israel Ground Offensive

'Gaza Metro' refers to the extensive network of tunnels created by the Palestinian armed faction Hamas to defend against airstrikes by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), as well as for transporting weapons and smuggling goods.

The Gaza Strip covers an area of 365㎢, slightly larger than Sejong City in South Korea, but with a population of 2.37 million, it is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. Since 2005, Hamas has constructed the Gaza Metro, a tunnel system totaling 300 miles (approximately 438 km) in length, located 30 to 40 meters underground and connected to the basements of houses, mosques, and schools in the area.

Connected much like a subway line, and with rails laid inside the tunnels, it is fittingly called a metro. For comparison, Seoul’s subway system covers a total length of 316 km over an area of 605㎢, so the Gaza Metro’s 438 km length highlights its vast scale. Western military experts estimate that Hamas has established leadership hideouts and command centers within the Gaza Metro, stockpiling various weapons, food, and fuel, enabling 35,000 to 40,000 Hamas fighters to continue combat operations for 3 to 4 months.

Tanks of the Israeli ground forces, engaged in war with the Palestinian armed faction Hamas, are advancing toward the Gaza Strip border.
[Photo by AP/ Yonhap News]

The initial Gaza Metro tunnels were used after Israel imposed a blockade on Gaza in 2007, digging tunnels under the border with Egypt to smuggle goods, fuel, and weapons. At one point, up to 2,500 tunnels were constructed, causing significant problems for Egypt. The Egyptian government attempted to destroy these tunnels by flooding them but ultimately failed. Subsequently, Hamas connected tunnels beneath densely populated urban areas in preparation for urban warfare. The IDF also attempted to destroy the Gaza Metro through ground attacks in 2014 but was unsuccessful. Despite being occupied five times, Hamas has continuously expanded the tunnel network.

On the 27th of last month (local time), the IDF deployed numerous tanks and advanced ground forces into the Gaza Strip. However, this was not the full-scale divisional offensive that Israel had consistently warned about since Hamas’s surprise attack. Unlike previous operations, the IDF appeared to be preparing for a prolonged campaign by establishing temporary bases within Gaza.

The British weekly magazine The Economist reported on the 28th of last month (local time) that this ground war pattern reflects a plan to gradually encircle Gaza City, the largest city in the Gaza Strip and Hamas’s stronghold, from both the south and north simultaneously. The report, citing a senior IDF official, described the ground offensive as a military operation that could last from several months to a year. This indicates the IDF’s intention to root out Hamas completely, even if the war prolongs.

Ultimately, the success or failure of the Israeli ground offensive in the Gaza Strip hinges on the battle against Hamas’s tunnel network. This is why Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at a press conference on the same day, "It will be a long and difficult war, fought on land, sea, and air, and we will eliminate enemies both above and below ground."