The Hamas tunnel system may have cost up to $1 billion to build

What a waste of money!

How much of Western taxpayers's money ended up constructing these tunnels?

Gaza Strip could be a very prosperous and peaceful enclave and a great place to live had this money been invested in the economy etc. Israel would have helped to make it possible!

"Chair of urban warfare studies at West Point, John Spencer, published an in-depth analysis of Hamas's unprecedented sub-terranean tunnel network, and the measures taken by the IDF to effectively neutralize it, based on his two visits to Israel, which he shared on X on Friday. ...
Yet, as the conflict unfolded, the IDF unearthed an extensive labyrinth of tunnels, surpassing initial estimates. He then noted the immense investment Hamas has made in constructing these tunnels, which he believes may have cost the organization up to a billion dollars over fifteen years. ...

While Israel boasts advanced capabilities for detecting and neutralizing tunnels at a tactical level, the strategic challenge posed by Hamas's time-based strategy cannot be understated, he says. Destroying deep-buried tunnels requires significant time and resources, playing into Hamas's objective of stalling Israeli military efforts. ..."

West Point expert explains Hamas tunnel system - The Jerusalem Post He then noted the immense investment Hamas has made in constructing these tunnels, which he believes may have cost the organization up to a billion dollars over fifteen years.