Al-Jazeera Network (Qatar) aired a report on Hamas’s complex of underground combat tunnels on June 5, 2021. According to the report, only limited damage was done to the tunnel complex, and whatever damage was sustained has been repaired. Jihad, a member of the Al-Qassam Brigades said that the tunnels are used for communication and to store ammunition, and rocket launchpads. Al-Jazeera's correspondent said that the tunnels were used in Hamas operations to abduct IDF soldiers and that Hamas considers the tunnels a "strategic weapon" to be used in future wars with Israel.
To view the clip of Al-Jazeera's report on MEMRI TV, click here or below.
Al-Qassam Brigades Fighter: "This Is One Of The Command And Control Centers That Were Used During The War... It Is Ready With All The Equipment And Devices In Order To Command Operations And Organize The Troops"
Reporter: "This is the first time that the Al-Qassam Brigades releases such images of tunnels following the recent war. These are rooms, communication devices, and maps that are used by the Al-Qassam Brigades to conduct the battles and operations against the Israeli army."
Jihad, Al-Qassam Brigades fighter: "Now we are walking inside a network of tunnels that spans the entire Gaza Strip. It was used during the recent war to conduct combat operations. This is one of the command and control centers that were used during the war, and it is still being used after the war. As you can see, it is ready with all the equipment and the devices in order to command the operations and organize the troops."
Al-Qassam Brigades Fighter: "We Incurred Only Limited Damage [In The Recent Fighting]... Immediately After The War Ended, We Renovated This Area And Restored Its Readiness"
Reporter: "Long and extended passages, ammunition depots, and rocket launch pads, are all part of this underground military and operational complex, as claimed by the Al-Qassam Brigades.
"The Israeli army said that this complex was one of its main targets in the recent war against the Gaza Strip, and that most of it was destroyed, rendering these tunnels nonoperational. However, Al-Qassam Brigades is talking only about partial damage."
Musa, Al-Qassam Brigades fighter: "We incurred only limited damage. Thanks to Allah, immediately after the war ended, we have renovated this area and restored its readiness."
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Al-Jazeera Reporter: "Al-Qassam Brigades Considers These Tunnels To Be A Strategic Weapon In Gaza, And Believes That The Will Remain The Main Battlefield In Any Future War Against Israel"
Reporter: "Al-Qassam has been building and developing its tunnels for decades, and used them in many combat missions and operations, of which the most prominent was the capturing of Israeli soldiers. Al-Qassam Brigades considers these tunnels to be a strategic weapon in Gaza, and believes that they will remain the main battlefield in any future war against Israel. Hisham Zaqqut, Al-Jazeera, reporting from Gaza, Palestine."
