As the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip intensifies, Israel has reportedly come up with a controversial plan to flood the underground tunnels used by the militant group with sea water.
The plan aims to prevent Hamas from using the tunnels to launch attacks on Israeli soldiers and civilians.
According to various media sources, Israel has installed five water pumps near the al-Shati refugee camp, which can pump hundreds of liters of seawater per second into the tunnels.
The sources said that the plan would be executed in the next few weeks, forcing Hamas to abandon the tunnels or face the risk of drowning.
The plan is part of a larger operation to destroy Hamas’ extensive tunnel network, which stretches for hundreds of kilometers and serves as a storage for weapons, a shelter for fighters, and a launchpad for surprise attacks.
The Israeli military has not confirmed or denied the plan, but has acknowledged that it is conducting a “big operation” to find and destroy the tunnels.
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The military said that the tunnels pose a major threat to its ground forces, which have entered deeper into the Gaza Strip since the outbreak of the conflict on Oct. 7.
The conflict, which has killed scores has been marked by heavy aerial and artillery bombardment by Israel, and rocket and mortar fire by Hamas and other armed groups.
Several attempts to broker a ceasefire have failed, as both sides have rejected each other’s demands.
The seawater plan has raised concerns among some US officials, who fear that it could violate international law and worsen the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The US, which is Israel’s main ally and arms supplier, has expressed support for Israel’s right to defend itself, but has also urged it to do more to avoid civilian casualties and facilitate the delivery of aid to Gaza.