Here's everything you need to know about the Hamas tunnels into Israel, in 2 minutes

Here&#039;s everything you need to know about the Hamas tunnels into Israel, in 2 minutes

(Image credit: New York Times)

last updated 8 January 2015

Israel's two-week-old air and ground offensive against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip is getting some tough condemnation for its lopsided death toll — at least 630 Palestinians, many of them children and other civilians, and 31 Israelis, including two civilians, as of Wednesday morning. (Israel is accusing Hamas of using civilians as "human shields"; experts aren't sure.)

Israel argues that it had no choice but to send in ground troops last Thursday, because there is no other way to destroy the network of tunnels Hamas has set up to transport arms and people into Israel, and at least in one infamous instance, spirit an Israeli solider back to Gaza. Israel says it has uncovered 23 tunnels since invading Gaza a week ago, with a total of 66 entrance points.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Explore More

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.

Subscribe to The Week

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox