Hamas tunnels mapped: The booby-trapped maze that could wipe out scores of Israeli troops

Israeli forces are preparing to storm Gaza in a massive offensive but face the terrifying prospect of being wiped out in a Hamas booby-trapped maze filled with traps and explosives.

Brave soldiers will have to make their way through the huge secret labyrinth of tunnels - dubbed by Israel as the ’Gaza Metro’ if they are to make any success of their key offensive - but it comes fraught with huge dangers.

The underground mission could happen in a matter of days - even as soon as US President Joe Biden leaves Israel following his diplomatic visit to the country in the face of the escalating conflict with Hamas.

But if and how the Israeli Defence Forces can successfully navigate the Hamas terror tunnels remains the big question as they are expected to be laden with- explosive devices to wipe out troops.

Here is what we know about this huge labyrinth of Hamas tunnels.

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When were they built and how many are they?

The construction of the tunnels started in Gaza before Israel withdrew its troops and settlers in the territory in 2005.

However, the tunnel network expanded at speed after Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007.

At its peak, there were almost 2,500 tunnels underneath the Egyptian border that Hamas and other militant groups used to smuggle in commercial goods, fuel, and weapons.

But Hamas and other factions started digging tunnels with the primary aim of attacking Israeli forces.

How long are these tunnels and where are they located?

The exact size of the tunnel network is difficult to assess as conflicting numbers have been floated around over recent years.

Following the last conflict in 2021, Hamas claimed its tunnels stretched a massive 500km. The IDF claimed it destroyed more than 100km of tunnels in airstrikes, while Hamas insisted only five percent were hit.

If the Hamas assessment of the tunnel network length is to be believed, it would be much bigger than the London Underground, which is 400km long and above ground.

The huge underground network of 40 or so tunnels spans several miles across the Gaza Strip, reaching the towns of Khan Younis, Jabalia, and the Shati refugee camp, while also stretching into Israel.

How deep underground do the tunnels go?

The tunnels underneath Gaza are believed to be as much as 100ft underground with entrances located on the bottom floors of houses, mosques, schools, and other public buildings that would allow militants to avoid detection.

The underground structures are reinforced with thick concrete to make them strong enough so they protect from air strikes and don't collapse in the event of an attack.

Rare footage taken over the years from inside the network portrays a sweaty environment and not even tall enough for fighters to stand up straight.

But many others are well built, strongly reinforced, and even tall and wide enough for troops to sprint through or move contraband.

The tunnels are believed to have cost between £21million and $64million.

The huge dangers facing Israeli troops in the huge tunnel network

Israel is preparing to enter the tunnels when they storm Gaza, but there are fears Hamas militants could mine them and deploy improvised explosive devices to wipe out IDF troops tasked with clearing the route.

Military and defence analyst and RUSI Associate Fellow Sam Cranny-Evans told MailOnline: "The tactics employed by the IDF will depend in part on the tactics used by al-Qassam (Hamas armed wing).

"It is likely that drones will be used to drop bombs on Israeli forces, and that improvised explosive devices (IEDs) will be deployed to slow them down.

"The IDF has experienced these technologies, but they do have the ability to inflict serious casualties."

Colin Clarke, research director at the New York-based Soufan Center think-tank, warned Hamas "knows its tunnels by heart".

He said: "Some are probably booby-trapped. Preparing to fight in such terrain would require extensive intelligence, which the Israelis may not have.

"When tunnels are found, they can be closed off to shut in the people inside. In this case, the order is likely to be for no quarter to be given."