Military correspondent Kobi Finkler told Mordechai Lavi of Kol Chai Radio on Monday morning 29 Shevat that there is no doubt regarding the existence of Hamas tunnels along the southern Israel border and there is no doubt Israeli authorities are aware of this.

Finkler explained Israel has invested an enormous sum in ongoing electronic surveillance along the Gaza border and the development of tunnel detection equipment. The United States has already backed this with $5 million and at present, the entire border with southern Israel is monitored as it has never been before. Finkler reports the military has invested over NIS 1 billion in this to date, showing just how seriously the matter is regarded.

Finkler explains the military wants to stop the tunnels but it needs to learn, and at times, the presence of a tunnel is known yet rather than destroy it, the military prefers to place monitoring adjuncts and a large number of soldiers to respond on a moment’s notice to better understand the Hamas operation.

The report adds that Hamas officials are earning a cool NIS 1 billion annually from their tunnel network which has developed into a cash cow for those in charge and this motivates them to continue funding the ongoing development of tunnels, many serving as an underground supply train.

Finkler points out that it is naïve to believe the IDF is not aware of ongoing Hamas activities and that the drilling is being ignored. He feels the situation is well under control and carefully monitored by the IDF both with personnel and state-of-the-art detection systems.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)