The conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has long been characterized by a complex narrative surrounding the origin of weapons used by the Palestinian militant group. A recent report by The New York Times, citing Israeli military and intelligence officials, has shed new light on this issue, challenging the established belief that Hamas primarily acquires its arsenal through smuggling.
According to the January 28th report, a significant portion of the weapons wielded by Hamas is repurposed from unexploded Israeli and US-made bombs dropped on Gaza. Contrary to the prevailing notion that Hamas relies on smuggling networks for its armaments, the findings suggest that a considerable number of weapons used by the group have roots in the munitions deployed by Israeli forces.
UN experts estimate that approximately one out of every ten explosive weapons dropped by Israeli forces fails to detonate, creating a substantial pool of potential raw materials for repurposing. The report even hints that the actual figure might be higher, considering that some of the weapons trace back to the Vietnam War era in the United States.
The variety of repurposed weapons is diverse and includes anti-tank explosives, RPG warheads, thermobaric grenades, and improvised devices. The analysis of remnants left over from the October 7 attacks formed the basis of these revelations.
This is not the first instance of repurposing weapons by Hamas. An Al Jazeera documentary in 2020 highlighted how the Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, utilized undetonated Israeli munitions from the 2014 Israeli war on Gaza. Additionally, metal water pipes left behind by Israel during its withdrawal from Gaza in 2005 were repurposed for military use.
The impact of this revelation is significant, challenging the narrative that has framed the conflict for years. While Israel contends that Hamas relies heavily on smuggling weapons through an extensive tunnel network, the new information suggests that a considerable portion of the arsenal comes from unexploded munitions.
As the world observes the evolving dynamics of the Israel-Gaza conflict, these findings underscore the need for a nuanced understanding of the sources of weaponry employed by militant groups. The recycling of weapons adds a layer of complexity to the already intricate geopolitical landscape, prompting a reassessment of prevailing narratives surrounding the conflict.
The scale of the conflict is also staggering, with Israel estimated to have deployed over 25,000 tonnes of explosives in Gaza since Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023. This figure underscores the intensity of the ongoing conflict and the potential for a significant number of unexploded weapons.
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