Israel build MAJOR UNDERWATER WALL to block Gaza attacks as Middle East war continues

ISRAEL’s Defence Ministry has started the construction of the world’s first underwater barrier on Sunday, intended to prevent Hamas and other Islamist militant groups from launching surprise attacks into the south of the country by sea.

کد خبر: ۸۰۳۲۹۴

تاریخ: ۰۷ خرداد ۱۳۹۷ - ۰۹:۱۹

According to Erez Cohen, the head of the Defence Ministry’s Engineering and Construction Department, the work is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Defence Minister Avigdor Liberman said in a statement the barrier would deny the Hamas militant group another strategic capability.

He said: “Today we began setting up a sea barrier, the only one of its kind in the world, which will block the possibility of infiltration from Gaza to Israel via the sea.

“We will continue to protect the citizens of Israel with might and sophistication.”

The barrier will be made up of three layers, including one below sea level, a layer of armoured stone and the third one with barbed wire.

A fence will also surround the breakwater to provide further security.

The decision of constructing an underwater barricade comes after five Hamas frogman swam ashore outside Kibbutz Zikim on Israel’s southern coast in 2014.

The naval commandos brought with them automatic weapons, explosives and fragmentation grenades but at the time, the Israel Defence Forces succeeded in stopping the attack.

However, since 2014 Hamas has significantly expanded its naval commando unit, which is reportedly over 1,500 frogmen.

Demonstrators send kites into sky in Israeli troop clashPlay Video In February, a senior navy officer warned that Hamas was increasingly turning to the sea to carry out attacks against Israeli troops and civilians.

He said: "Hamas sees potential in the sea like they saw potential in their tunnels.”

Israel has been haunted by the threat of underground tunnels since 2006, when Palestinian fighters sprung out of tunnel near the Egyptian border, killing two soldiers and capturing another.

Israel world fist barrier underwater barrier Gaza Palestine border frogmenIsrael Ministry of DefenceThe barrier is expected to be completed by the end of the yearIsrael world fist barrier underwater barrier Gaza Palestine border frogmenGettysince 2014 Hamas has reportedly expanded their naval commandos to over 1500 frogmen.The Gaza border is Israel's most unstable area.

Since March thousands of Palestinians have been demonstrating along the Gaza-Israel security fence.

At least 116 civilians have been allegedly killed by the fire of Israel Defence Forces fire and over 13,000 wounded since the “Great March of Return” began.