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Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28430298
Gaza: How Hamas Tunnel Network Grew
(BBC News) Dr. Eado Hecht - Hamas built a maze of underground concrete bunkers connected with tunnels and multiple entrances and exits underneath the residential areas of Gaza. These underground complexes are similar in concept to the Viet Cong tunnels dug beneath the jungles of South Vietnam, though the quality of finishing is better, with concrete walls and roofs, electricity and other required amenities for lengthy sojourn. After the failure of Hamas' rocket forces to inflict significant damage on Israeli towns in November 2012, they decided to build a large offensive-tunnel capability that would enable them to infiltrate assault teams into Israeli villages within a few kilometers of the border or place large bombs underneath these villages. To discover the tunnels, the Israelis must either have excellent intelligence from within Gaza or they must go in and search for them house by house. Destroying a tunnel is a lengthy and complex operation. The entire length of the tunnel and its branches must be located, mapped and then completely destroyed. The writer is a lecturer in military doctrine at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies at Bar-Ilan University.