[Small Arms & Light Weapons: Introduction]

The following small arms and light weapons have been seized by the IDF or are held by various Palestinian terrorist groups: 1

  • M-16 Asssault Rifles
  • AK-47 Assault Rifles
  • Dragunov sniper rifles
  • Long rifles
  • Sniper rifles (various)
  • Various semi-automatic weapons
  • Machine guns
  • Assorted handguns
  • Hand grenades
  • Grenade launchers
  • Anti-tank missiles
  • Ammunition (various)

[Indigenous Production of Small Arms & Light Weapons]

According to Nizar Rayyan, a Hamas leader from Gaza's Jabalya refugee camp, the terrorist group has been manufacturing hand grenades and RPG's for several years. In July 2006, a Hamas video entitled "Hosted by the Rifle," showed assembly lines for anti-tank rockets, bombs and grenades.

In October 2007, a Hamas spokesman detailed the history of indigenous weapons production by the group.

"Al-Qassam Brigades began its work with stones then 'knife.' After that, the old pistols (such as Karlo –small guns). Making weapons began in 1992 when the Mujahedeen to make a gun (9mm), then (Ozi) in 1993 till the year of 1996. Then, making weapons stopped because of usurping the weapon from the Mujahedeen by the 'Oslo' security forces.

In 1998, making weapons resumed by the Qassam commanders such as making mortar shells by the Martyr commander Adnan Al-Ghoul and the General leader Muhammad Deif. After that, the brothers resumed the work since the beginning of Al-Aqsa Intifada. There was the mortar shells, then the Qassam rocket 1&2, then the Yassin missiles and the 'Shiwath' bombs.

The main stuff of making rockets in Al-Qassam Brigades were the leaders (Yahya Ayyash , Adnan Al-ghoul – Sa'ed Al-Arabid – Mahmoud Ferwana – Yusif Abu Hin –Yaser Taha –Nida Farahat – Teto Masoud) and others, may Allah reward them and give mercy." 2



Jabalya Refugee Camp

[Smuggling Routes]

Palestinian terrorist elements have also smuggled small arms and light weapons into the West Bank and Gaza Strip, via land, sea, and air routes.

Israeli military intelligence has determined that Egypt, Libya, and Yemen serve as the primary suppliers of weapons to Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip. In addition, the three countries also supply Palestinian Authority officers with surplus weapons and explosives.

According to an Israeli military source, "The weapons are smuggled by private gangs but with full knowledge of the authorities of these countries...There's no secret here." Intelligence sources note that arms dealers purchase AK-47 assault rifles, rocket propelled grenades, rocket and missile components, ammunition and explosives in the three above-mentioned countries. The supplies are then shipped to Egypt's Sinai Peninsula and smuggled over the border into the Gaza Strip or Israel.

In December 2005, Western intelligence sources reported that Sudan had become a major source of weapons and ammunition for Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Fatah.


Darfur

According to intelligence assessments, Palestinian terrorists began using the arms smuggling route from Sudan in 2003. The arms originated from military surplus in the western Sudanese province of Darfur and were transported to Egypt, the Sinai, and the Gaza Strip (via Rafah).

"It's [Sudan] become a huge source of weaponry for the Palestinians as well as for other militias in need of equipment...There's an entire infrastructure that's proven highly reliable." It should be noted that the Sudanese weapons, delivered via Egypt, are apparently far cheaper than arms originating elsewhere.

In November 2006, the IDF confirmed that Iranian-financed weapons (originating in Darfur) slated for the PA were being routed through an Egyptian port. According to Yuval Steinitz, the deputy chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee: "The weapons to the Palestinians are brought in through Egyptian ports and El Arish and are imported by land from Sudan...Those latter imports have to traverse Egypt on their way to Gaza. There is no way that the Egyptian government is not colluding with the weapons shippers."

[Post-Disengagement Smuggling]

Officials note that smuggling has increased from the Sinai since Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in September 2005.

In June 2006, Shin Bet head Yuval Diskin told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that the amount of weapons and explosives smuggled into the Gaza Strip from the Sinai since the disengagement (September 2005) is larger than the total amount smuggled since the Six Day War. Palestinian terrorists have smuggled 11 tons of TNT, three million bullets, 19,600 rifles, 1,600 pistols, 65 RPG launchers and 430 RPGs.


In September 2006, Israeli defense officials expressed concern over an increase in the number of attempts to smuggle weapons into the Gaza Strip. The officials were particularly worried by the efforts of Palestinian terror groups, led by Hamas, to smuggle anti-tank missiles into Gaza.

The Palestinians have long attempted to improve the quality of their anti-tank missiles. Shortly before Israel withdrew from Gaza, Palestinian terrorists succeeded in improving the quality of their missiles by smuggling modern rocket-propelled grenades to replace improvised weapons.

However, Hamas is currently interested in obtaining Russian-made missiles stockpiled by the Syrian army. It should be noted that a number of the missiles were used by Hezbollah during the second Lebanon war. In addition, the Palestinians have determined that the IDF's armored divisions are vulnerable to anti-tank missiles developed in the Eastern bloc.

In November 2006, Diskin told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that 33 tons of military-grade high explosives, 20,000 assault rifles, 3,000 pistols, 6,000,000 rounds of small arms ammunition, 38 long-range Qassam missiles, 12 shoulder-fired, anti-aircraft guided missiles, 95 anti-tank rocket launchers, 410 anti-tank rockets and 20 precision-guided anti-rank missiles have been smuggled into Gaza since the disengagement.

Later that month, Diskin informed the Committee that Palestinian terrorist organizations were studying the Lebanese-Israeli war. Diskin also noted the West Bank had become increasingly violent, especially in Samaria. Apparently, the intelligence community has found it difficult to control the area and collect information. According to Diskin, "Samaria has become the land of Islamic Jihad following the disengagement."

Diskin also voiced concern over the fact that weapons smuggling through the Rafah crossing has increased exponentially since the pullout and added "Rafah will soon be the garden of Eden of weapons smuggling."

Diskin warned that after three to five years of this kind of weapons transfer, Israel will face a situation similar to south Lebanon.

"At this point, anybody who wants to smuggle something through the Philadelphi route can apparently do so...You can smuggle anything through Philadelphi except maybe a tank or plane."

In November 2006, Diskin told the Committee that 33 tons of military-grade high explosives, 20,000 assault rifles, 3,000 pistols, 6,000,000 rounds of small arms ammunition, 38 long-range Qassam missiles, 12 shoulder-fired, anti-aircraft guided missiles, 95 anti-tank rocket launchers, 410 anti-tank rockets and 20 precision-guided anti-rank missiles have been smuggled into Gaza since the disengagement.

2006 smuggling statistics:

  • 28 tons of standard-grade explosives (6 tons in 2005)
  • 14,000 assault rifles (9,300 in 2005)
  • 5 million armament accessories (2 million in 2005)
  • 150 RPG rockets
  • 65 grenade launchers
  • 10 upgraded anti-tank missiles
  • 10 anti-aircraft missiles
2007:

In August 2007, Deputy Shin Bet Chief "Y" noted that arms smuggling in the Gaza Strip had increased. Since June 2007, 40 tons of weapons were smuggled into the Strip – approximately one half of the total amount of armaments smuggled into the area since Israel's July 2005 disengagement. Since August 2007, the defense establishment has recorded five major incidents of arms smuggling through Egypt, during which 13 tons of explosives and 150 RPG launchers were imported.

In October 2007, Yuval Diskin stated that approximately 1,650 RPG rockets and some 6,000 bombs have been smuggled into Gaza since January 2007. In addition, an estimated 73 tons of explosives have been smuggled into Gaza through tunnels since June. Millions of bullets for light weapons and tons of potassium, used to manufacture bombs, have also crossed the Gaza-Sinai border.

[The Santorini & Karine A]

The Santorini and Karine A

In January 2002, the IDF intercepted the Palestinian Karine A vessel in the Red Sea. The Karine A was loaded with approximately 50 tons of weapons, including:

  • Dragunov sniper rifles
  • PK machine guns
  • AK-47 (Kalashnikov) assault rifles
  • Small arms 7.62 mm rounds
  • Cartridges for Kalashnikov, Dragunov and PK machine guns
  • Hand grenades


Karine A: Seized Weapons
Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs


In May 2001, Israeli Navy patrol boats detained a 40 ton ship (the Santorini) off the western coast of Israel. The ship sailed from Lebanon under the patronage of the PFLP-GC with a cargo destined for Palestinian elements in the Gaza Strip. It should be noted that the ship had previously carried out at least two smuggling attempts on behalf of the Lebanese Hizballah terrorist organization.

Weapons found on board the ship included:

  • Hand grenades
  • Hungarian Kalashnikov assault rifles
  • Magazines for Kalashnikovs
  • 7.62 mm rounds for Kalashnikovs
    • 3
[References]

  1. Suzanne Goldenberg, "Guns for sale - how stolen Israeli weapons arm Fatah's fighters," The Guardian, December 16, 2000; Gal Luft, "Palestinian Military Performance and the 2000 Intifada," MERIA Journal Vol. 4, No. 4, December 2000; Nadav Shragai, "Illegal Weapons Are Rampant in PA," Ha'aretz, July 7, 1998; Amos Harel, "PA Forces Said Training Hard to Take On IDF," Ha'aretz, June 1, 1998; Lisa Beyer and Aharon Klein, "Deadlier Next Time?" Time (internet edition), December 16, 1996; Laurie Copans, "Palestinians Deny Try for Anti-Tank Missiles," Washington Times, December 10, 1996, p. A 15; Yoav Limor, Hanan Shlein, and Uri Binder, "Weapons Were Smuggled for the Palestinian Authority," Ma'ariv (in Hebrew), March 1, 1998; Sharm-el-Sheikh Fact-Finding Committee - First Statement of the Government of Israel," Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Operation "Defensive Shield" - Summarized Statistics 28.March-13.April Updated 08:00, IDF Spokesperson's Office, April 13, 2002.


  2. Khaled Abu Toameh, "Hamas Admits to Having Weapons Factories in Gaza," Jerusalem Post, October 23, 2004; "Hamas Details Defense Industry," Middle East Newsline, July 5, 2006; "In the Seventh Anniversary of Al-Aqsa Intifada: Abu Obiada Gives Details About Stages of Resistance and Making Weapons," Ezzedeen Al-Qassam Brigades [Hamas] Website, September 30, 2007.


  3. Ze'ev Schiff, "Palestinian Groups in Gaza Amassing Arms Ahead of Withdrawal," Ha'aretz, September 9, 2004; "IDF Seizes PA Weapons Ship," Jewish Virtual Libray, January 4, 2002, citing IDF Spokesperson's Office Website; "Israel Navy Forces Detain Ship With Weapons," IDF Spokesperson's Office, May 7, 2001; "Palestinian Weapons Come From Egypt, Libya, Yemen," MENL, May 17, 2005; "Palestinians' Weapons Route Traced to Sudan's Darfour," World Tribune, December 20, 2005; Sheera Claire Frenkel, "Diskin: 11 Tons of TNT Reached Gaza Since Pullout," Jerusalem Post, June 6, 2006; Amos Harel, "Militants Attempt to Smuggle Anti-Tank Missiles into Gaza," Ha'aretz, September 6, 2006; "Iranian-Financed Weapons to the PA Flow Through Egyptian Port," Middle East Newsline, November 5, 2006; "Behind the Headlines: The Threat to Israeli Civilians from the Gaza Strip," Israeli Foreign Ministry, November 21, 2006; Hanan Greenberg, "Shin Bet Chief: Hamas Using Calm to Build Up Strength," YnetNews, February 5, 2007; Yaakov Katz, "Diskin: Egypt Is Not Active Enough," Jerusalem Post, February 5, 2007; Rony Sofer, "'Hamas Planning Mega-Terror Attack in Israel'," YnetNews, August 26, 2007; Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff, "Government Concerned over Egypt-Hamas Ties," Ha'aretz, October 23, 2007. .





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