Israeli officials have likened the extensive network of tunnels in the Gaza Strip to a "spider web," indicating that despite over nine months of military operations since the ground invasion began on October 27, 2023, the full extent of the tunnel network remains unknown.
Israeli Channel 12 reported that an unnamed official described the situation, saying, “It’s like a spider web: if you cut one tunnel, alternative tunnels will automatically appear and this can continue.”
The official admitted, “We still do not have a complete understanding of the tunnel network, and we lack firm and absolute control over the entire tunnel project.”
Another unnamed Israeli officer noted that the military encountered Hamas’s ability to conduct organized defensive operations from underground during the invasion.
Meanwhile, Israel's ongoing offensive in Gaza, which began following an attack by Hamas on October 7, has drawn international condemnation for its disregard of a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire.
Israeli’s war on Gaza has killed nearly 39,300 Palestinians, primarily women and children, and over 90,600 injuries.
The prolonged offensive has left extensive damage across Gaza and exacerbated shortages of food, clean water, and medicine.