Peloni: Notably, PM Netanyahu recently stated that only 150km out of about 500km tunnels in Gaza had been destroyed, and as Christine Douglass-Williams explains the overall number of tunnels is increasing. This mission is very very far from complete.
By | Feb 22, 2026
Terror tunnels in Gaza. Photo by IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikipedia
It’s obvious that powerful players are supporting Hamas; otherwise, it would not be able to rebuild its jihad terror tunnels so quickly in the face of sophisticated IDF efforts to dismantle them. So here’s the breakdown by the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies:
Iran reportedly supplies $100 million in financial and military support annually. Hamas officials praise Iran for sending “cash, equipment and [military] expertise” and long-range rockets to strike Israel.
Qatar reportedly contributed more than $150 million to Hamas in 2019, $100 million in 2020, and $360 million in 2021. Qatar now funds Hamas with an estimated $120 million per year. It claims to support the Gaza government, not the terrorists.
Turkey, Malaysia, Algeria and Kuwait also provide financial, military, diplomatic, and political support to Hamas.
Note the mainstream countries involved. It isn’t only Iran.
According to the US Treasury, Iran’s “global portfolio of investments generates vast sums of revenue through its assets, estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars, with companies operating in Sudan, Algeria, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, and other countries.”
Since the Palestinian cause is central to the Muslim ummah, the regional support for Hamas should not be underestimated.
“Hamas rebuilding terror tunnels faster than Israel can destroy them – report,” World Israel News, February 18, 2026:
Israeli security officials are warning that the IDF is nowhere near completing the destruction of Hamas’ extensive terror tunnel network across the Gaza Strip, with one official adding that the terror group appears to be capable of rebuilding its underground infrastructure faster than the IDF can demolish it.
According to a report published Tuesday night by Israel’s Channel 14, which cited multiple security officials, newly presented intelligence information shows that Hamas is still far from being defeated, largely because of its tunnel network.
In the past two months, IDF forces have uncovered around 40 underground tunnel sites in northern Gaza alone, but officials believe that many more tunnels remain undiscovered in the area.
In addition, the officials cited in Tuesday’s report said that it appears that a vastly greater tunnel network remains hidden in central Gaza.
Israeli intelligence assessments indicate that the tunnel infrastructure there has been barely impacted and remains at roughly the same level of operational effectiveness as before October 7, 2023.
One official emphasized that the most troubling takeaway for the IDF is the assessment that Hamas can repair and restore tunnels faster than IDF engineering teams can find and demolish them…
Let me ask one question. What do you need to build tunnels? Cement. Is it a natural resource in Gaza? No? I didn’t think so. So if Hamas is still in the business of building tunnels, where is the cement coming from? If Israel is allowing ANY cement into Gaza before an acceptable peace agreement is implemented, then it is they who are building the terror tunnels. Hamas is merely acting as their contractor. If Israel REALLY wants peace and safety, they need to get serious about it.