2023-11-02 18:08:04
Israeli forces are trying to locate the hostages in the Hamas tunnel network. They are assisted by the Americans who are ready to intervene.
After 27 days of war between Israel and Hamas, fighting continues to rage in the northern Gaza Strip, while the human toll continues to rise on both sides.
The Hamas Ministry of Health announced Thursday thatat least 27 people killed in Israeli strike near UN school in a refugee camp in Jabaliya. On Tuesday and Wednesday, several dozen people had already been killed by bombings on the same refugee camp. According to Israel, these operations made it possible to eliminate a senior Hamas leader, Ibrahim Biari.
During this time, a group of around a hundred foreigners and dual nationalswho left the southern Gaza Strip on Thursday aboard two buses, arrived in Egypt via the Rafah terminal. Several hundred other evacuations are expected to follow in the coming days.
According to the tally kept by the Hamas Ministry of Health, more than 9,000 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip since October 7. On the Israeli side, in addition to the more than 1,400 people killed on October 7, there are at least 330 soldiers killed during operations in the Gaza Strip since then.
Bring the hostages to the surface
The objective remains the destruction of Hamas’ military infrastructure and weapons stocks, and the recovery of 242 Israeli and foreign hostages. As these are probably held in the network of underground tunnels, the rescue operation promises to be particularly difficult.
The IDF can rely on elite units including the Yahalom battalion, specializing in complex engineering taskswhich uses robots and all kinds of remote-controlled machines.
The Americans would wait for Israel to locate the hostages before intervening.
Former colonel and military expert Roger Housen, speaking to our colleagues at Het Laatste Nieuws, explains the modus operandi for accessing tunnels that go up to 60 meters deep. “Israel uses thermal cameras and echo tracking systems that work like bats with sound waves. Once in the tunnels, Israeli soldiers cannot simply open fire. This is why they also have non-lethal weapons aimed at putting both hostages and Hamas fighters to sleep.“
Additional problem for the IDF: tunnel ventilation can be cut off at any time by Hamas. This requires Israeli soldiers assigned to these operations to wear oxygen masks.
American competition
Several elements also suggest that the United States should assist in the release of the hostages, given that a number of them are American citizens. “It is no coincidence that the American rescue ship USS Bataan was redirected to the Red Sea, off the coast of Israel“, observes Roger Housen.
“American troops will land in Gaza to bring their citizens home.”
This 260 meter long aircraft carrier is equipped with combat aircraft, attack helicopters and hovercrafts. On board: 2,300 marines trained in rescue operations. According to the former colonel, the Americans are already providing information to the Israelis from the ship using drones and radars.
They would wait for Israel to locate the hostages before intervening. “With patrol boats departing from the ship’s hull and helicopters taking off from the deck, US troops will land in Gaza to bring their citizens home.”
The United States has also deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean the aircraft carriers USS Gerald Ford and USS Dwight Eisenhower with their respective flotillaswith the aim of deterring Iran and Lebanese Hezbollah which is under the orders of Tehran.
The summary
- Israeli operations in the Gaza Strip continued unabated on Thursday.
- The search for hostages held in the tunnels of Hamas promises to be complex.
- Of the non-lethal weapons must be used in order to get the hostages out of the tunnels alive.
- The presence of the USS Bataan indicates that the United States might help to the release of the hostages.
File | Israel-Hamas War
All the news on the war between Hamas and Israel in the Middle East. Discover our analyzes and the latest information.
???? Our special report dedicated to the war between Hamas and Israel.
1698949547
#IsraelHamas #war #battle #tunnels #Gaza
