What are ‘Sponge bombs’, Israel’s new weapon?
Israel's warfare innovation
Israel has a new trick up its sleeve– Sponge bombs. Reports of the new munition come before a possible Israeli ground invasion of Gaza.
What are ‘sponge bombs’?
Sponge bombs reportedly do not create a fiery explosion. Instead, it releases a large amount of foam that expands and then hardens.
How do they work?
The bomb reportedly contains two unknown liquids, which are divided by a strip of metal. The foam releases after these two liquids mix.
Why does Israel need them?
The Israeli military is often challenged by the extensive underground tunnels created by Hamas in Gaza. Sponge bombs may help seal these.
Are sponge bombs new?
The chemical grenades have been tested by the Israeli military before, according to Telegraph. They were used in mock drills in 2021.
Hamas’ tunnel system
The Palestinian militant group has created vast tunnels in Gaza. These are reportedly over 200 kilometres long and up to 80 feet deep
How were the tunnels created?
Hamas began working on the tunnels a long time ago. Their tunnel project reportedly began in the mid-1990s, years after Hamas was formed.