According to news reports, Israel has set up pumps near the al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, which are capable of flooding the tunnels within weeks by pumping thousands of cubic meters of water per hour into them. The Israeli military has not confirmed or denied this plan, but it has said that destroying the tunnels is a central goal of its campaign against Hamas. Israel claims that the tunnels are used by Hamas to hide hostages, weapons and fighters, and that some of its top leaders such as Yahya Sinwar are hiding underground.

The plan has raised concerns about the potential damage to Gaza’s aquifer and soil, if seawater and hazardous substances in the tunnels seep into them, as well as the possible impact on the foundations of buildings.

Russia has warned Israel against flooding the Gaza Strip tunnels with seawater and said that this step would be a war crime. The US officials quoted by the Wall Street Journal said that opinions in the Biden administration were mixed, with some expressing concern about the Israeli plan while others backing Israel’s efforts to destroy the tunnels.

Israel is considering this method now because it has faced difficulties in locating and destroying the tunnels with conventional means such as explosives and ground forces. It is very unlikely that Israel can disable all Hamas tunnels in Gaza, as they are numerous, hidden, and constantly rebuilt by the militants. Hamas has also learned to adapt to Israel’s methods and improve its tunnel network over time. Therefore, Israel faces a formidable challenge in trying to eliminate the tunnels which are a key asset for Hamas’ military and political strategy.

The potential impacts of flooding the tunnels with seawater are hard to predict but they could be significant and far-reaching. Here are some of the possible consequences:

Flooding the tunnels could violate international humanitarian law, which prohibits attacks that cause excessive collateral damage or harm to civilians and civilian infrastructure.

The legal aspects of flooding the Gaza tunnels with seawater are complex as they involve the application and interpretation of international humanitarian law and human rights law. Some of the main legal questions and challenges are:

– Does flooding the tunnels amount to an excessive and indiscriminate use of force that violates the principle of distinction between combatants and civilians?

– Does flooding the tunnels comply with the rules of environmental protection in armed conflict, or does it cause severe and long-term damage to the natural resources and ecosystems of Gaza and the region?

– Does flooding the tunnels........

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