How Does Hamas Acquire Its Weapons?

One of the main ways that Hamas acquires weapons is via an extensive network of tunnels under the Gaza-Egypt border. Since Hamas seized power in the Gaza Strip in 2007, the terrorist group’s smuggling efforts have increased. With funding from Iran, Hamas has improved its stockpile of weapons.

Watch a short video with footage that the IDF captured before Hamas could add them to its arsenal:

In 2011, the Israeli Navy boarded the Victoria, a German-owned ship, and discovered that it was carrying more than 50 tons of weapons that were concealed behind bales of cotton and sacks of lentils, including 60 mm and 120 mm mortar shells, C-704 anti-ship missiles and ammunition for Kalashnikov assault rifles.

Most of the weapons, including the C-704 missiles, were manufactured in Iran and came with Farsi-language instruction manuals printed with symbols of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.

In 2009, the Israeli Navy intercepted a ship called Francop off the coast of Cyprus. It was en route from Iran to Syria, where the weapons were to be offloaded and shipped by land to Hezbollah in Lebanon. The ship contained 36 containers with 500 tons of arms: 9,000 mortar bombs, 3,000 Katyusha rockets, 3,000 gun shells, 20,000 grenades and half of a million rounds of small ammunition, all hidden behind sacks of polyethylene.

Related posts:

Operation Cast Lead: Hamas Militants and Weapons in Urban Gaza Hit by Israel Air Force
List of Past Iranian Attempts to Smuggle Weapons, 4 Nov 2009
500 Tons of Weapons for Hezbollah Intercepted by Israeli Navy, 4 Nov 2009