WSJ: Israel considers flooding Gaza tunnels with seawater

According to a report recently published by the American Wall Street Journal, Israel is allegedly considering a strategy to use seawater from the Mediterranean to flood the tunnels in the Gaza Strip. 

The goal of this plan is to dislodge Hamas fighters who are believed to be using the tunnels for military purposes. 

The report states that the Israeli army has already installed large seawater pumps near the Beach camp in Gaza, and they are capable of pumping thousands of cubic meters of water into the tunnels every hour. 

The article also highlights concerns expressed by an unnamed American official about potential water shortages in Gaza. If implemented, this flooding strategy could potentially flood the tunnels within a matter of weeks. 

These details were originally reported by the Arab World News Agency.

The newspaper reports that American officials have confirmed that Israel informed the United States of the plan at the beginning of last month. Discussions were held regarding the military feasibility of the plan and its environmental impact. However, officials also state that they are unsure how close the Israeli government is to implementing the plan.

The newspaper reported that Israel has not yet made a decision about the plan. According to the report, some American officials have voiced concerns about the Israeli plan, while others have expressed support and suggested that there may not be any American opposition to the plan. 

The newspaper also cited a source familiar with the Israeli plan, stating that the flooding of the tunnels will compel Hamas fighters to leave with the Israeli prisoners. 

However, it remains uncertain whether Israel will contemplate using pumps before releasing all the prisoners.