Israeli authorities completed construction of an underground wall on the border with the Gaza Strip, built to block tunnels that Hamas militants can use for sabotage attacks, Israeli media reported.
The underground wall is equipped with sensors and is located on Israel on its side with the Gaza Strip. It serves as a countermeasure developed after Hamas fighters used tunnels to attack during the 2014 war.
Israel announced its project, including a ground fence, a naval barrier, radar systems, and command and control rooms, in 2016.
“The fence, which is an innovative and technologically advanced project, deprives Hamas of one of the opportunities it was trying to develop,” Defense Secretary Benny Gantz said.
Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi said the wall was a crucial part of Israel’s defense concept on land, air, and sea. The barrier is a game-changer,” he said.
“We responded by force to any minor violation at the border and will continue to do so. We are strengthening our defenses on all fronts, including against Iran,” Kohavi said.
The ministry said the barrier, which includes hundreds of cameras, radars, and other sensors, stretches 65 kilometers and that 140,000 tons of iron and steel were used in its construction. The construction lasted 3.5 years.
The ministry also said the project’s “smart fence” is over 6 meters high, and its naval barrier includes sea intrusion detection and a remote-controlled weapon system. The Israeli ministry did not disclose the depth of the underground wall or any other additional details about it.
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