Concerning report: Israel has destroyed just a quarter of Hamas tunnels as Hamas races to build more

The Hamas terrorist organization continues to expand and rebuild its vast network of terror tunnels across the Gaza Strip, posing an enduring and complex threat to Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) troops operating in the region. Despite months of intensive military action, the IDF has managed to destroy only about 25% of Hamas's known tunnel infrastructure, according to a report by Kan Reshet Bet on Sunday. Military officials have voiced deep concern over Hamas's relentless efforts to not only repair damaged tunnels but also to construct new subterranean passages, designed to give the group a tactical edge against Israeli forces.

Hamas’s tunnel system has long been a strategic cornerstone of its asymmetric warfare against Israel. Originally popularized during earlier conflicts such as Operation Protective Edge in 2014, the tunnels are used for a variety of offensive and defensive purposes, including smuggling weapons and fighters, launching surprise attacks, planting explosives, and providing escape routes after ambushes. The complex labyrinth of tunnels, often fortified with concrete and equipped with electricity and ventilation, enables Hamas operatives to strike IDF forces with anti-tank missiles and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) before quickly vanishing underground, minimizing their exposure to Israeli retaliation.

In recent operations, IDF soldiers have uncovered and demolished dozens of tunnel shafts and passages, employing advanced technologies such as ground-penetrating radar, tunnel detection sensors, and specialized explosives. Nevertheless, military sources acknowledge that Hamas’s ability to rapidly rebuild and extend the network, often using forced civilian labour and materials diverted from humanitarian aid, makes it exceedingly difficult to fully neutralize the threat.

In a related development underscoring the human toll of Hamas’s tunnel warfare, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi (note: the earlier text mistakenly referred to "Eyal Zarmir"; as of 2025, Halevi is the Chief of Staff) met with a group of recently released Israeli hostages. Among them were Romi Gonen, Liri Albag, Sasha Trufanov, and Omer Shem Tov. These former captives recounted harrowing experiences of being held underground, describing how they could hear explosions, tank movements, and Hebrew communications from IDF units operating nearby as they remained imprisoned beneath the surface.

Lt. Gen. Halevi reaffirmed the IDF’s dual commitment to both dismantling Hamas’s military infrastructure and securing the safe return of all Israeli hostages still held in Gaza. "The return of the hostages and ensuring their safety remain our top priorities," he declared. "We will continue to take all necessary actions to achieve our war objectives, bringing all hostages home and defeating the Hamas terrorist organization."

The challenge presented by Hamas's tunnel network remains significant. Israel's military analysts have long warned that these tunnels not only serve immediate tactical purposes but also complicate any long-term stabilization efforts in Gaza, as they allow Hamas to maintain a hidden and resilient infrastructure even under heavy military pressure. As the conflict endures, the IDF is expected to continue prioritizing both technological innovation and intelligence operations to counteract this entrenched subterranean threat.