How is Israel 'giving away' weapons to Hamas?

A Hamas weapons manufacturing facility in Gaza.

For years, analysts have argued that smuggling routes through tunnels under the Gaza Strip have allowed Hamas to obtain heavy weapons despite the Israeli blockade.

However, recent intelligence evidence has revealed that Hamas has managed to manufacture rockets and anti-tank weapons from thousands of bombs that failed to detonate during Israel's shelling of the Gaza Strip.

In addition, Hamas also found weapons for its gunmen by stealing them from Israeli military bases, according to The New York Times , citing weapons experts and Israeli and Western intelligence officials.

The surprising origin of most of Hamas' weapons

Intelligence investigations during the months of fighting found that Israeli officials not only misjudged Hamas’ intentions before the group attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, but also underestimated its ability to acquire weapons.

It is clear that the weapons used by the Israeli army to enforce the blockade of the Gaza Strip for the past 17 years are now being used against them.

Explosive devices from the Israeli and US militaries allowed Hamas to attack Israeli towns from Gaza for the first time.

“Unexploded bombs are the main source of explosives for Hamas,” The New York Times quoted Michael Cardash, a former official in the bomb disposal department of the Israeli National Police.

“They cut bombs from Israel, artillery shells from Israel, and many of them are used as a source for Hamas explosives and rockets,” according to Mr. Cardash.

How much explosives did Hamas collect from Israel?

Some weapons and ammunition confiscated by Israel from Hamas in late December 2023

ISRAEL DEFENSE AGENCY

Western experts estimate that about 10% of missiles, bombs, or ammunition usually fail to explode, but in Israel's case the rate may be higher because Israel's ammunition inventory includes missiles that were built decades ago.

Therefore, the "misfire" rate of these missiles or bombs can be up to 15%, based on calculations by an anonymous Israeli intelligence official.

It is estimated that after many years of bombing and more recently air strikes on Gaza, the Israeli army has in fact provided thousands of unexploded bombs and rockets for free, and Hamas just needs to start exploiting them.

A 340 kg bomb that fails to explode can be reused to make hundreds of missiles or rockets.

Hamas did not respond to a request for comment from The New York Times . The Israeli military said in a statement that it was working to disarm Hamas, but did not answer detailed questions about the origins of its weapons.

Israeli officials have long known that Hamas could reuse some of Israel's bombs and missiles, but the true scale has surprised weapons experts and diplomats.

Tel Aviv authorities are also aware that their weapons can be stolen. A military report in early 2023 noted that thousands of bullets, hundreds of guns, and grenades had been smuggled out of military bases in the country.

Some of the weapons reportedly reach the West Bank, and the rest reach the Gaza Strip via the Sinai.

Sinai, the largely uninhabited desert region between Israel, Egypt and the Gaza Strip, continues to be a hub for the region's illicit arms trade.

Weapons from conflict zones in Libya, Eritrea and Afghanistan have been found in Sinai, according to Israeli intelligence analysis.

And two Israeli intelligence officials said at least a dozen small tunnels were still active between Gaza and Egypt as of October 7, 2023.

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