The clash of arms: diving into the heart of the arsenal of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad
When we talk about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, one of the images that often comes to mind is that of Palestinian armed groups brandishing impressive weapons. Rockets, drones, rifles, mines… The arsenal of Hamas and Islamic Jihad continues to surprise with its power and diversity.
But in reality, these weapons are not that new. Hamas and Islamic Jihad have already flaunted their arsenal in previous attacks against Israel. Many of these weapons come from Iran, while a small portion are manufactured locally in Gaza using Iranian designs.
While some weapons are smuggled into the Gaza Strip through tunnels, most of them are smuggled with other goods, such as food or household appliances. The support of Iran, which provides the plans and technical assistance, is crucial in this weapons production within Gaza.
Iranian officials have repeatedly confirmed their economic and logistical support for Hamas. For their part, the Palestinian authorities openly thanked Iran for this valuable aid. The leaders of Hamas and Islamic Jihad have also publicly acknowledged the importance of Iran in strengthening their military capabilities.
Interestingly, this relationship between Hamas and Iran goes back many years. Indeed, Hamas propaganda videos dating from 2014 already show the use of Iranian missiles. This cooperation between the two groups strengthened over time, to the point that engineers from Islamic Jihad and Hamas were trained in Iran.
Among the most spectacular weapons used by these groups are Iranian-made mortars. Videos released by Hamas show the use of M48 mortars directly from Iran. This type of weapon is capable of firing 120 millimeter shells.
Rockets are also widely used by Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Some of these rockets are Iranian-made, as shown in propaganda videos released by these groups. For around ten years, Hamas has been equipped with these rockets, which constitute a real threat to Israel.
Finally, drones are also part of the arsenal of Palestinian armed groups. The videos show the use of Shahab drones, used for attacks on Israeli territory. Although these drones are not of Palestinian design, they are actively used by Hamas with Iranian support.
In conclusion, the arsenal of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad is impressive, but not necessarily surprising. These weapons come largely from Iran and are either smuggled into the Gaza Strip or manufactured there with Iranian support. This cooperation between Iran and Palestinian armed groups is a reality that has persisted for many years.