In A recent development, mounting evidence suggests that some of the weapons utilized by Hamas in a violent attack on southern Israel earlier this month may have originated from North Korea. While North Korean authorities have consistently denied any involvement in arming the terrorist organization, expert analysis and a substantial cache of supporting evidence, including confiscated munitions and video footage, paint a conflicting picture.
At the center of this controversy lies the F-7 rocket-propelled grenade, a shoulder-fired weapon typically used against armored vehicles. An image disseminated by Hamas following the October 7th assault prominently displays their members wielding a rocket-propelled grenade that bears a distinctive red stripe on its warhead, along with design elements closely resembling the North Korean F-7. According to Matt Schroeder, a senior researcher with Small Arms Survey, this weapon is particularly favored by guerrilla forces due to its potency and swift reloading capabilities.
Notably, N.R. Jenzen-Jones, a renowned weapons expert, affirms that the F-7 also exhibits lethal capabilities against personnel and has been documented in use in various conflict zones, including Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, it is believed that these North Korean weapons have reached Palestinian militants through Iran, serving as the primary conduit for their acquisition.
Hamas has also released propaganda showcasing fighters wielding North Korea’s Bulsae anti-tank missile and the Type 58 self-loading rifle during their initial incursion into southern Israel, which resulted in a tragic loss of life. In the wake of this attack, Israel responded with airstrikes, leading to a dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In response to mounting international pressure and a call for a full siege of the region, an agreement brokered by visiting U.S. President Biden with the involvement of Egypt seeks to deliver essential supplies to the Strip. However, as of Thursday, no aid or road-repair equipment has yet entered Gaza due to damage sustained during Israeli airstrikes at the Rafah Crossing.
Written by- Abdullah khan of 3rd semester of USLLS, an intern under Legal Vidhiya
