How does Hamas get its weapons?

Analysis by CNN‘s Brad Lendon: The analyzes how Hamas, despite being situated in the impoverished and isolated Gaza Strip, was able to amass the weaponry for a large-scale attack on Israel. The acquisition of arms and training has been made possible through a combination of resourcefulness, smuggling, and significant support from Iran. The weapons range from rockets and missiles to small arms, many of which were smuggled into Gaza via tunnels and boats, escaping Israeli and Egyptian blockades.

Key factors that enabled this include:

• Geographic and Political Context: Hamas rules over the Gaza Strip, a poor and densely populated area, which has been under strict siege by Israel and Egypt for nearly 17 years.
• Role of Iran: Iran has been a significant military benefactor to Hamas, supplying weapons via smuggling routes like cross-border tunnels and boats that evade Mediterranean blockades. Iran also provides training and has enabled Hamas to build its own weapons.
• Indigenous Manufacturing: A senior Hamas official revealed that the group has local factories producing a range of weapons, from rockets to bullets for rifles, some of which is done with “permission from the Russians.”
• Resourcefulness and Recycling: Despite the lack of heavy industry, Hamas has been ingenious in sourcing raw materials. Scrap metal from destroyed infrastructure and unexploded Israeli munitions are recycled for weapons production.
• Long-term Preparation: The attack was not spontaneous; it had been in the planning for at least two years, according to Hamas officials.
• Underestimated Capabilities: The scale of the attack caught both analysts and intelligence services off guard, suggesting that Hamas’ capability had been underestimated.

The attack thus demonstrates Hamas’ tenacity, resourcefulness, and strategic alliances that enable it to operate effectively despite the challenging conditions it faces.

The entire article can be read at the link https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/11/middleeast/hamas-weaponry-gaza-israel-palestine-unrest-intl-hnk-ml/index.html