During the months of fighting, the IDF uncovered documents seized in the Gaza Strip that outlined brutal directives for Hamas operatives, including not abandoning a location without killing those present and taking as many hostages as possible.
The document, written in 2019 and captured by IDF forces, exposes Hamas's long-term efforts to build a sophisticated underground military network. This network was designed to withstand prolonged attacks and slow down the advance of Israeli ground forces within the dark tunnels.
The detailed records prove how extensively Hamas planned for the attack. A year before the war broke out, Hamas leader Yehya Sinwar approved a budget of $225,000 for installing blast doors to protect the tunnel network from air and ground assaults, as reported by *Maariv*. The exposed documents, along with testimony from experts and Israeli commanders, explain why, nearly a year into the war, Israel is struggling to achieve its goal of dismantling Hamas. While Israel had been searching for and dismantling offensive tunnels built by Hamas for years, insufficient attention was given to the internal tunnel network in Gaza.
The guide contains detailed instructions for underground warfare, including camouflaging tunnel entrances, using compasses and GPS for navigation, rapid entry and efficient movement techniques, using night vision goggles with infrared, and precise shooting within narrow passageways. “Without the tunnels, Hamas would have had no real chance against the IDF,” experts told the American newspaper.