Israel has begun pumping seawater into Hamas’ tunnels in Gaza as part of the military’s plan to destroy the terror group’s vast underground network, where many of the hostages are still believed to be held, according to a report.
The water from the Mediterranean is one of several measures the Israel Defense Forces is using to clear and decimate the miles of intertwined tunnels, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing unnamed US officials.
Earlier this month, the outlet reported that the tactic was under “consideration” after the IDF had built at least five pumps about a mile north of the Al-Shati refugee camp that could be used to draw the seawater to flush out the tunnels.
The flooding began around the time Israel added two more pumps to the five and the IDF conducted some initial tests, US officials told the Journal.
The pumping is in an early stage and its effectiveness is still being studied, the Journal reported, adding that other tactics include airstrikes, liquid explosives, and the dispatch of dogs, drones and robots into the tunnels.
President Biden was asked about the flooding plan on Thursday, making clear it could lead to the deaths of some of the 100 hostages still being held by the terror group.
“With regard to the flooding of the tunnels. I’m not at lib … well, there (are) assertions being made that … there’s no hostages in any of these tunnels. But I don’t know that for a fact.”
He added: “I do know that, though, every civilian death is an absolute tragedy, and Israel has stated its intent, as I said, to match its words … with actions.”
A spokesperson for Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant declined to comment to the outlet, saying the tunnel operations are classified.
The IDF did not immediately respond to a request for comment by The Post early Wednesday.
Last week, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzl Halevi said flooding the tunnels is “a good idea, but I won’t comment on its specifics,” the Times of Israel reported.
In reported recordings between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and released hostages and their families, Israelis angrily told him they feared that the flooding would kill their loved ones, according to the Journal
In 2015, Egypt flooded smuggling tunnels between the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula with seawater, sparking complaints that it damaged the soil.
The IDF last week announced that troops had discovered more than 800 tunnels since the beginning of the ground offensive against Hamas.
About 500 of them had already been destroyed.