Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

How does Hamas get its weapons? A mix of improvisation, resourcefulness and a key overseas benefactor
CNN ^ | 10.12.2023 | Brad Ledon

Posted on 11/01/2023 1:21:32 PM PDT by libh8er

...And it has been almost completely cut off from the rest of the world for nearly 17 years, when Hamas seized control, prompting Israel and Egypt to impose a strict siege on the territory, which is ongoing.

Israel also maintains an air and naval blockade on Gaza as well as a vast array of surveillance.

Which begs the question: How did Hamas amass the sheer amount of weaponry that enabled the group to pull off coordinated attacks that have left more than 1,200 people dead in Israel and thousands more injured – while continuing to rain rocket fire down on Israel?

The answer, according to experts, is through a combination of guile, improvisation, tenacity and an important overseas benefactor.

The Iran factor “Hamas acquires its weapons through smuggling or local construction and receives some military support from Iran,” the CIA’s World Factbook says.

While the Israeli and US governments have yet to find any direct role by Iran in last weekend’s raids, experts say the Islamic Republic has long been Hamas’ main military supporter, smuggling weapons into the enclave through clandestine cross-border tunnels or boats that have escaped the Mediterranean blockade.

“Hamas’ tunnel infrastructure is still massive despite Israel and Egypt regularly degrading it,” said Bilal Saab, senior fellow and director of the Defense and Security Program at the Middle East Institute (MEI) in Washington.

“Hamas has received arms from Iran smuggled into the (Gaza) Strip via tunnels. This often included longer-range systems,” said Daniel Byman, a senior fellow with the Transnational Threats Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

“Iran has also been shipping Hamas its more advanced … ballistic missiles via sea, in components for construction in Gaza,” said Charles Lister, senior fellow at the MEI.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: armsdealing; armssmuggling; frombloggers; gaza; hamas; iran; missiles; soros; weaopons; weapons
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-27 next last

1 posted on 11/01/2023 1:21:32 PM PDT by libh8er
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: libh8er

Not like how the taliban got theirs. Thanks Joe.


2 posted on 11/01/2023 1:22:16 PM PDT by mrmeyer (You can't conquer a free man; the most you can do is kill him. Roberor thert Heinlein)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: libh8er

What became of those billions of dollars worth of high-tech weaponry that Biden handed to the Taliban when he buggered out of Afghanistan?


3 posted on 11/01/2023 1:22:38 PM PDT by Telepathic Intruder
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: libh8er

Lemme guess...Iran? North Korea?


4 posted on 11/01/2023 1:23:50 PM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Two Words: Banana Republic)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: libh8er

5 posted on 11/01/2023 1:24:47 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion, or satire, or both.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: libh8er

Lucky the universal background checks keep them from getting serious weapons. That and 4473s and red flag law...... Oh!?

🙏🇺🇸🇮🇱👍


6 posted on 11/01/2023 1:25:58 PM PDT by rktman (Destroy America from within? Check! WTH? Enlisted USN 1967 to end up with this💩? 🚫💉! 🇮🇱👍!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: libh8er

The question isn’t who supplies which is well known, but how it enters Gaza when it’s supposedly blockaded in all directions.


7 posted on 11/01/2023 1:26:25 PM PDT by libh8er
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: libh8er

Getting a cease fire long enough to rearm is step #1. Step #2 (see step #1). Repeat.


8 posted on 11/01/2023 1:35:59 PM PDT by immadashell (Save Innocent Lives: Ban Gun Free Zones)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: libh8er

GEORGE SOROS is somehow finding.


9 posted on 11/01/2023 1:36:59 PM PDT by ncfool (America has died we are living in the united socialist states of aMeriKa)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: libh8er

You are correct, “how” it gets past the “safeguards” is probably where the money comes in.


10 posted on 11/01/2023 1:36:59 PM PDT by ThePatriotsFlag (Accepting a false premise initiates conversational defeat.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin
Yep, and that POS lives like a King today in the USA, a country he couldn't stop bashing and apologizing for when he was Pres.


11 posted on 11/01/2023 1:39:03 PM PDT by GrandJediMasterYoda (As long as Hillary Clinton remains free, the USA will never have equal justice under the law)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: libh8er

When listening to concerns about restricted access to drinking water in Gaza, Please note: They found enough water to line 300 miles of tunnels with concrete.


12 posted on 11/01/2023 1:39:21 PM PDT by G Larry (It is RACIST to impose SLAVE WAGES on LEGAL Immigrants by importing Cheap ILLEGAL Labor!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: libh8er

Probably the US gives them to them.


13 posted on 11/01/2023 1:50:18 PM PDT by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ncfool

Soros funding it with WEF money


14 posted on 11/01/2023 1:52:07 PM PDT by jpp113
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: libh8er

From Soros.


15 posted on 11/01/2023 2:06:55 PM PDT by aculeus (Just Call Him "No Border" Biden)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: libh8er

Stark Industries!


16 posted on 11/01/2023 2:07:57 PM PDT by Mr. N. Wolfe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: libh8er

” ballistic missiles via sea, in components for construction in Gaza”
Doesn’t seem like it would be too hard to shut that down...if someone wanted to, that is.


17 posted on 11/01/2023 2:12:40 PM PDT by Fireone (Who killed Obama's chef?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: libh8er

Exactly.
The Israeli have known this for 50 years.
CNN I can see is right on it....


18 posted on 11/01/2023 2:16:30 PM PDT by Zathras
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: libh8er

Interestingly neither the Communist News Network, nor any of it’s subhuman scum “reporters” (including little Brad Lendon), can mention the name, nationality or anything else about the “key overseas benefactor “.


19 posted on 11/01/2023 2:31:14 PM PDT by Navy Patriot (Celebrate Decivilization)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All

Here is what is wrong with this picture:

1) Iran has been under sanctions for many years. What happened recently with sanctions doesn’t matter much because it takes years and years to accumulate the excellent technical expertise they have shown. The conclusion has to be sanctions are worthless and Iran laughs at them.

2) Iran is hardcore Shiite. Hamas is hardcore Sunni. If you’re looking for a support source, why not look to the Sunni Saudis? If you simply believe that, you don’t have to explain failure of sanctions.

3) Hamas can launch these rockets forever. They are cheap, locally constructed, require nearly no guidance and are so small they have a radar cross section near zero. They don’t really need any special benefactor, other than Saudi Sunni money.

4) There is another quieter factor why Iran is not involved. Iran has the #2 natgas reserves in the entire world and they don’t burn / export so much that they will run out before their enemies. Time is on their side. No reason to accelerate anything.


20 posted on 11/01/2023 2:40:17 PM PDT by Owen (.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-27 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson