JERUSALEM

The Israeli military has declined to comment on reports that it is pumping seawater into a network of underground tunnels used by Palestinian fighters in the Gaza Strip.

When asked on Wednesday evening about reports of water being pumped into the tunnels in the enclave, an Israeli military official declined to answer, citing “non-disclosure of operational details.”

“The Israeli military has been working for years on tactical options regarding the tunnels and has various methods to neutralize them,” the official said.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Israel plans to pump seawater into the tunnels used by Palestinian resistance fighters as part of a broader strategy to destroy the underground system.

Israel believes that the tunnels have been key to Hamas operations on the battlefield.

Israeli Army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi had earlier described reports about pumping seawater into the tunnels in Gaza as a “good idea.”

Israel has bombarded the Gaza Strip from the air and land, imposed a siege, and mounted a ground offensive in retaliation for a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

At least 18,608 Palestinians have been killed and 50,594 injured in the Israeli onslaught since then, according to Gaza’s health authorities.

The Israeli death toll in the Hamas attack stands at 1,200, while around 139 hostages remain in captivity, according to official figures.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio