In a recent revelation, Israel has uncovered that Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, has been employing Chinese-manufactured assault rifles and grenade launchers in its ongoing conflict with Israel, as reported by the Telegraph.
This discovery has raised eyebrows about China's role in the Middle Eastern conflict, given its previous stance on deescalating the tension between Israel and Hamas and its interest in reviving the Iran nuclear deal.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reportedly found stockpiles of military supplies, including M16 cartridges, telescopic sights for rifles, and advanced communication equipment. The presence of these Chinese-made weapons in the arsenal of Hamas has led Israel to question Beijing's direct involvement in supplying the militant group with military material.
An Israeli intelligence source expressed surprise at the discovery, telling the Telegraph, "This is top-grade weaponry and communications technology, stuff that Hamas didnt have before, with very sophisticated explosives which have never been found before and especially on such a large scale." The source further questioned whether the weaponry came directly from China to Hamas.
This development could potentially strain the once thriving relationship between Israel and China. The ties between the two nations have been gradually deteriorating since October 7, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, resulting in the death of 1,200 individuals and the abduction of 240 more. Israel's disappointment with China was further fueled when China's Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, criticized Israel's response to the Hamas attack as exceeding "the scope of self-defense" on October 14.
Dr. Patrick Bury, a defense expert from the University of Bath, suggested that Iran, known for training Hamas members, could have played a role in the transfer of Chinese-made weapons to the militant group. "If its a large quantity, its most likely a state actor involved, and that state actor is highly likely to be Iran. It could be stuff that was purchased by Iran off China and found its way to Hamas. There are other potential actors but much less likely, Bury stated.
He further added that this situation could potentially damage the trust between China and Iran. "China will not like the Iranians doing this with their kit. Its not a good look if its a massive haul and trust will become an issue, Bury concluded.
This unfolding scenario underscores the complex dynamics of international relations and the potential repercussions of arms trading in global conflicts.
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