Israel is contemplating a strategy to flood Hamas’ underground tunnels with nerve gas and chemical weapons under the surveillance of US Delta Force commandos as part of a surprise attack on the Gaza Strip, before initiating a ground operation, implying a potential willingness to abandon any hostages within the enclave, Pulitzer Prize-winning American journalist Seymour Hersh reported on his Substack blog, citing sources.
“Israel and the US hope to achieve the element of surprise in order to penetrate Hamas tunnels, rescue an estimated 220 hostages, and kill thousands of soldiers belonging to Hamas’s al-Qassam Brigades,” Middle East Eye reported quoting a source saying in a statement, noting that the information comes from a leak originating in the US.
According to Hersh, the Israeli military is actively bombing Gaza City, reducing it to ruins, and is preparing for an imminent ground invasion.
He quoted a US official who suggested that Israeli leaders are deliberating on flooding Hamas’ extensive tunnel network before deploying troops.
“Such an action might indicate Israel’s preparedness to sacrifice the hostages still in danger,” Hersh noted.
Previously, Hersh had mentioned Israel’s intention to transform Gaza City into a site resembling Hiroshima, without the use of nuclear weapons.
He explained that Israeli forces might utilize American guided bombs capable of penetrating 30-50 meters deep before detonation, effectively demolishing Hamas’ underground weapon production facilities.
Tensions escalated in the Middle East on October 7 when Palestinian soldiers from Hamas group retaliated to decades long occupational crimes by Israel, aggressive Israeli actions against the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City. Since then, Israel imposed a complete blockade on the Gaza Strip and initiated airstrikes on the enclave as well as certain regions in Lebanon and Syria. Currently, the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 6,000.
