Meet the Officers Responsible for the Counterterrorism Efforts Against the Hamas Underground Tunnel Network

Lieutenants N., N. and S. serve together in the Intelligence Department of the Southern Command, where they are the connecting link between IDF military intelligence and the Israeli Air Force. After receiving intelligence data, they decode it for transmission to the Israeli Air Force and other units that conduct direct strikes on terrorist targets.

One of these target objectives was the network of underground terrorist tunnels located throughout the Gaza Strip. This subterranean tunnel system is used by Hamas to plan and conduct terrorist attacks against the Stae of Israel and its civilians. In May 2021, after Hamas and other terrorist organizations in Gaza began to launch rockets indiscriminately at Israeli cities, the IDF began Operation Guardian of the Walls and destroyed over 100 km of Hamas’ tunnel network and other terrorist targets.

“It's a whole city under the city. These tunnels pass under highways, schools, agricultural fields. I do not know if the people of Gaza understand what is happening under their feet.” —Lieutenant N.

“One of the biggest challenges we have faced is the location of these tunnels—we can not destroy them because innocent civilians may suffer. A densely populated area with a lot of civilian buildings is the worst place to strike, and this is where the Hamas tunnels are intentionally located.” —Lieutenant S.

“Very often, we give up some targets, despite our interests, simply because we are committed to minimizing the suffering of Gazan civilians. They are not guilty, they most likely do not even know that Hamas is using them as human shields, and we do everything in our power to avoid civilian casualties.” —Lieutenant N.

How can you explain to the world that the IDF is acting to protect Israeli civilians?

"It’s all very simple. Hamas’ goal is to inflict the most harm it can to the civilians of Israel. They aim missiles at Ashkelon and Sderot, two residential areas where there are no military facilities, large army bases, or military infrastructure. Hamas targets civilians. The IDF only conducts strikes against legitimate military targets in the Gaza Strip. Unfortunately, civilians in Gaza are dying because Hamas uses them as human shields.”

We are all human, and there is always the potential for error. What if you're wrong? What if you misidentify a target?

“We have nearly no room for error. We have a plan, which we and many other people have worked on for many years. A chain of approvals and confirmations takes place at all steps. It is very difficult to make a mistake.”

Where were you when Operation Guardian of the Walls began?

“Before the operation, we had a very intensive period of work. We did not fully understand when the operation would begin, but we knew that something was going to happen. When we realized that this is what we were preparing for, the Air Force was initializing operations according to our plan, which we had been working on all this time. We were certainly surprised, but we were prepared. We were ready for this, this is our direct line of work.”

When will the next military operation take place?

“We hope that it will not happen at all, but if it does, we are completely ready. The IDF is always ready. The day after Operation Guardian of the Walls ended, we immediately began to prepare for the next operation.”

During Operation Guardian of the Walls, Hamas rocket fire killed 12 civilians in Israel and injured more than 300. The Iron Dome Aerial Defense System intercepted 90% of the rockets launched by terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip at Israeli civilians.

“The last operation was very intense. We have a lot of soldiers and officers who live close to the border with Gaza, so we took all the attacks that terrorists launched very personally. A rocket exploded next to one of my soldier’s houses. She ran out in tears to check if everything was alright with her family, and, after a quick phone call, she returned and continued her work.”

“When you are an officer, you have two jobs. To complete your task and to make sure your soldiers are taken care of. Whether they got home safely, if everything in their family is good, how their personal lives are—both sides of the job are equally important.”