Israeli Military Has No Effective Measures Against Hamas' 'Underground Tunnels'

by Yun Seulgi

Published 16 Oct.2023 10:55(KST)

Interview with Lee Se-hwan, CEO of Charles Military Research Institute, on SBS

As the deployment of Israeli ground forces into the Gaza Strip is imminent, there are observations that the Israeli military may struggle due to the spiderweb-like tunnels dug underground by the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza.


Lee Se-hwan, head of Charles Military Research Institute, appeared on SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' on the 16th and said, "From the Israeli military's perspective, there is no sharp countermeasure against these tunnels," adding, "The Gaza Strip is slightly smaller than Sejong City, but there are tangled tunnels inside. According to Hamas, they claim about 500 km, and even if it is not 500 km, it would be several hundred kilometers."


Lee said, "Also, the Israeli military has to enter with tanks, and Hamas has drawn a lot of inspiration from the Russia-Ukraine war, with Iran providing significant drone support," adding, "Just now, Hamas crossed the barrier and used drones to destroy all the communication facilities of the Israeli military's forward base and even destroyed two tanks."


) On the 15th (local time), black smoke rose in the Gaza Strip following an Israeli airstrike. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) warned on social media platform X, "We previously urged residents of Gaza City and northern Gaza Strip to move south for their safety," adding, "The IDF will not conduct any operations along evacuation routes from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (7 p.m. Korean time)." Photo by EPA Yonhap News

) On the 15th (local time), black smoke rose in the Gaza Strip following an Israeli airstrike. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) warned on social media platform X, "We previously urged residents of Gaza City and northern Gaza Strip to move south for their safety," adding, "The IDF will not conduct any operations along evacuation routes from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (7 p.m. Korean time)." Photo by EPA Yonhap News

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He continued, "Israeli tanks have the world's best active defense system. They can block all incoming rockets and anti-tank missiles," but pointed out, "(However) they cannot detect slowly flying drones at all."


Lee said, "Even if the Israeli military enters the Gaza Strip, it will be very limited," and added, "For example, the Gaza Strip is divided into five areas overall, and the northernmost part is called North Gaza, where about 400,000 people live. I think the goal is for the Israeli military to completely occupy only up to North Gaza."


Regarding U.S. President Joe Biden's remarks in an interview with CBS on the 15th (local time) about the possibility of Israel occupying the Palestinian Gaza Strip, where he said, "Hamas must be completely eliminated. But there must be a path for the establishment of a Palestinian state," Lee analyzed, "That means they know the Israeli military will struggle a lot if they go in."



Lee said, "If the Israeli military enters the Gaza Strip, they have to finish within a week," adding, "It is absurd to finish the entire Gaza Strip within a week. That is why the U.S. is currently giving various warnings to Israel as well."