Doubts/Hamas has used North Korean weapons for the attack on Israel

2023-10-19 08:25:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Doubts/Hamas has used North Korean weapons for the attack on Israel

Illustrative photo

Hamas fighters likely used North Korean weapons during their October 7 attacks on Israel. The Associated Press agency said that this conclusion was drawn after analyzing a video and weapons that were captured by Israel, despite the fact that Pyongyang has denied that it sells weapons to this Palestinian militant group.

The video was analyzed by two North Korean weapons experts. The Associated Press has analyzed the weapons captured on the battlefield, but also based on North Korean military intelligence, and according to the AP, the video shows that Hamas used F-7 rocket launchers, weapons that fighters usually use against armored vehicles.

This evidence sheds light on the illegal arms shipments that North Korea - a country hit by international sanctions - uses in order to finance its weapons programs.

F-7 weapons can be loaded quickly, making them valuable weapons for guerrilla forces. The F-7 grenade launcher has also been documented in use in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, said NR Jenzen-Jones, a weapons expert who works at Armament Research Services.

"North Korea has long supported Palestinian groups, and North Korean weapons in the past have been documented among the prohibited shipments," Jenzen-Jones told The Associated Press.

Hamas has released training photos showing its fighters with weapons such as grenade launchers and other features consistent with the F-7, said Matt Schroeder, a researcher at the Small Arms Survey Institute, which has written a guide to South Korea's small arms. North.

"It's no surprise that we see North Korean weapons in Hamas," Schroeder said.

The North Korean F-7 weapon resembles the Soviet-era RPG-7 grenade launcher, but there are some differences.

Weapons that have been transferred from the Israeli army have been shown to journalists. Among the weapons there are also other elements belonging to F-7 grenade launchers.

During a meeting with reporters, the South Korean military's General Staff specifically identified the F-7 as one of the North's weapons believed to have been used by Hamas during attacks on Israel. The Israeli military has not responded to the AP regarding the origin or manufacturer of these grenade launchers, arguing that the ongoing war against Hamas prevents it from commenting on the subject.

North Korea, through the KCNA news agency, last week denied claims that Hamas used its weapons, calling these claims "baseless and false" that Pyongyang says were orchestrated by the United States.

Hamas propaganda videos and photos that have been released in the past have shown the militants using North Korea's Bulsae anti-tank missiles. Jenz-Jones said he believes, based on videos and photographs, that Hamas militants have also been using the North Korean 58 rifle, which is a variant of the Kalashnikov.

Iran has also modeled some of its ballistic missiles after North Korea's variants.

Iran has long supported Hamas and congratulated it after the October 7 attacks on Israel.