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Middle East Geopolitics
Underground Realities: The Geopolitical Impact of Gaza’s Tunnel Network
The subterranean tunnel infrastructure of Gaza serves three military, commercial, and subsistence functions during its nation’s prolonged conflict. Since they influence the campaign methods of Hamas along with Israel and Egypt the underground tunnels serve as decisive elements for security discussions and humanitarian debates. We explain in this analysis the functions and effects of underground tunnels on the region while presenting expert projections about their continued existence.
What Are These Tunnels, and Why Do They Matter?
The residents of Gaza built these underground tunnels through the Israeli and Egyptian borders as a method to circumvent military blockades which continued for many decades. The initial purpose of tunnels centered on smuggling operations but organizations have since upgraded these structures into highly developed underground complexes. Hamas employs these tunnels today to transport weapons as well as to organize unexpected attacks and circumvent Israeli monitoring equipment. Analysts from the United Nations and independent sources confirm that certain tunnels possess electricity along with ventilation systems and rail tracks (UN OCHA, 2023; RAND Corporation, 2022).
