The United States and Israel are moving forward with plans to establish four additional concrete plants in the Gaza border area to meet growing demand for sealing Hamas tunnels in the Strip and constructing a massive military base intended to serve the International Stabilization Force (ISF). The enormous quantities of concrete required for both projects have created the need for the additional plants.
The current system is operating amid cash-flow difficulties. The concrete plants shut down every week because of budget problems, dramatically affecting the continuous effort to seal the tunnel routes.
As part of the preparations to transfer responsibility for operating and financing the plants to the United States, workers at the existing concrete facilities have already been informed that, for payroll and management purposes, they will become employees of the US administration overseeing the project.
AFSI Insight
Hamas’ tunnel system has always been far more than an engineering challenge—it is the backbone of a terrorist infrastructure built over decades with international aid, diverted resources, and the cynical exploitation of Gaza’s civilian population. Every tunnel destroyed represents one less avenue for terrorism, kidnapping, weapons smuggling, and attacks against Israeli civilians.
AFSI views this development as a welcome recognition that Hamas cannot simply be contained; its military infrastructure must be eradicated. However, we also emphasize that this effort must not come at the expense of Israel’s freedom to act militarily wherever necessary. Any international involvement should reinforce—not replace—Israel’s sovereign responsibility to defend its citizens.
Sealing the tunnels addresses only one component of the threat. As long as Hamas or any similarly committed terrorist organization remains capable of rebuilding, the underlying danger persists. The lesson of the past two decades is clear: reconstruction without demilitarization merely creates the next battlefield.
For AFSI, the ultimate objective remains unchanged: Gaza must never again serve as a launching pad for terror against Israel. Destroying the tunnel network is a critical step toward that goal, but only if it is accompanied by the complete dismantling of Hamas’ military capabilities and unwavering support for Israel’s security needs.