Trapped in the Maze: Gaza’s Underground War and the Fate of the Missing

The air is thick with dust and the metallic smell of diesel. A faint tremor shakes the clay walls—muted echoes of the bombardment raging above. In the darkness, lit only by a salvaged lamp, a young fighter coughs, his lungs strained after moving through these tunnels with purpose. Beside him, an elderly woman clutches a small, dirty photo of her grandson, displaced from the surface and now confined to this underground artery. They are not allies, but prisoners of war together beneath the earth. Water drips from the ceiling, marking the passage of time—a slow, painful clock measuring their dwindling hope and uncertain future.

This is the hidden theater of Gaza’s war (2023–2025):

A vast underground labyrinth where both freedom fighters and civilians are trapped—not only by military siege, but by the collapse of the very infrastructure meant to protect or sustain them.

Our investigation delves into the origins of the “Gaza Metro,” the fate of those now lost within it, and the urgent legal and humanitarian risks of their captivity.

Quick Facts: The Hidden War Below

• Tunnel network estimates: Reports suggest 350–450 miles of tunnels with more than 5,700 shafts. • Historical origins: Tunnels linking Gaza and Egypt date back to the early 1980s, primarily for smuggling. • Major incident: The August–September 2025 assault on Gaza City saw deep incursions into the densest tunnel networks. • Civilian conditions: By July 2025, over 320,000 children under five in Gaza faced acute malnutrition. Underground conditions are presumed far worse. • IHL principle: The principle of distinction requires attacks to target only military objectives, not civilians or civilian objects. • ICRC demand: The International Committee of the Red Cross repeatedly called for unconditional release of hostages and access to all detainees.

Origins and Purpose of the Tunnel Networks

The Gaza tunnel system—often called the “Gaza Metro” by Israeli sources—is not a single structure but an evolving mix of utilitarian and military engineering. Its roots lie in the early 1980s, after Rafah was split by the Philadelphi Route. Local families built sophisticated cross-border tunnels to smuggle goods and bypass Israeli blockades.

After Hamas’s rise in the early 2000s, especially post-2007, the network expanded dramatically and was repurposed:

• Military tunnels: Dug 18–25 meters deep, designed for weapons storage, command centers, training, and covert movement of Hamas fighters and other factions. Equipped with electricity, ventilation, and communications. • Civilian/utilitarian tunnels: Smaller, shallower tunnels used by civilians for temporary shelter or limited access to goods, especially along the Egyptian border. However, military shafts were often placed inside civilian sites—homes, mosques, schools—complicating IHL analysis and civilian protection.

It is publicly documented that Hamas’s military wing built massive underground networks to counter Israeli air superiority and enable clandestine operations.

Role in the Gaza War (2023–2025)

The tunnels became central to both Hamas’s strategy and the Israeli Defense Forces’ (IDF) response.

• Military utility: The network gave Hamas “road-like capabilities” for maneuvering, supporting both offensive raids and defensive withdrawals. Concealed movement was critical for ambushes against Israeli forces. • Civilian refuge: With over 90% of Gaza’s population displaced and infrastructure systematically destroyed, tunnels may have been the only immediate refuge for civilians fleeing bombardment—though proximity to military sites exposed them to grave danger.

Timeline of Key Incidents

• 7 October 2023: Hamas’s initial attack on Israel used tunnels leading into Israeli communities, enabling infiltration and hostage-taking. • Oct–Nov 2023: IDF’s first ground invasion focused on locating and destroying tunnel infrastructure.

The IDF falsely claimed a major command center lay beneath al-Shifa Hospital. • Aug–Sep 2025: Final-stage battles saw deep incursions into Gaza City’s most complex tunnel layers, shifting from clearing entrances to underground combat.

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Current Situation of Those Trapped

Tunnels, built for limited military use, are unfit for long-term human habitation—especially after heavy combat.

• Physical conditions: Gaza’s humanitarian crisis already showed catastrophic shortages. By July 2025, 320,000 children under five faced acute malnutrition, and nine in ten families resorted to “extreme coping mechanisms” for food. Underground, isolation from even minimal aid worsens untreated wounds, dust-choked breathing, and near-total lack of clean water. • Emotional state: Trauma and fear dominate civilians. Fighters remain resilient but still require food and medical support.

Possible Outcomes for Released Fighters

• Detention: Continued administrative/security detention without trial is common but must meet IHL standards. • Trial: Fighters may face criminal charges under Israeli law. IHL requires fair trial standards, banning summary or in absentia punishment. • Exchange/Reintegration: Releases often occur via prisoner swaps during ceasefires. Others may face long-term detention or, rarely, reintegration if conflict resolution frameworks emerge.

The core risk remains mistreatment, torture, or extrajudicial punishment—violations of both IHL and human rights law.

Human Rights Organizations’ Positions

• ICRC: Demands unconditional release of hostages, access to detainees, and humane treatment. • HRW: Highlights forced displacement and aid denial, arguing these amount to crimes against humanity. • UN agencies: Stress the “hollowing of humanity” and insist on unhindered humanitarian access.

Remedies: Humanitarian and Legal

• Humanitarian corridors: Neutral passageways must be negotiated to deliver medical aid, water, and food underground. • Independent monitoring: ICRC and neutral bodies must gain immediate, unhindered access to all detention sites, including tunnels. • Legal counsel: Captured fighters must be allowed legal representation to challenge detention and ensure fair trial standards.

Advocacy includes supporting trusted NGOs (MSF, UNRWA), letter campaigns to foreign ministries and UN bodies, and demanding strict adherence to Geneva Convention IV.

Analysis: Geopolitical and Ethical Stakes

The handling of Gaza’s tunnels and those inside carries profound geopolitical and moral weight.

Failure to uphold IHL—allowing inhumane conditions, torture, or summary punishment—sets a dangerous precedent undermining international law and justice in war. Such violations fuel regional instability, damage international standing, and serve as rallying cries for future conflict.

The ethical question is stark: Does a fighter’s alleged crime justify collective, inhumane punishment or denial of medical aid?

IHL is clear: No. Humane treatment is a non-reciprocal obligation, applying regardless of the adversary’s actions.

Conclusion

The war in the tunnels is an unseen tragedy testing the limits of humanity and the strength of international law.

Those trapped—fighters or civilians—are owed the same basic dignity and protections guaranteed by global conventions forged after past atrocities. Accountability must be pursued for all actions: both the tactical use of civilian infrastructure by fighters and the treatment of detainees by Israel.

The facts are clear:

Tunnels may have been built for war, but they must not become graves where legal obligations and human rights are buried forever.