Did US weapons end up with Hamas during the Israel war?
Investigation into Hamas Attack on Israel Raises Concerns about American Weapons
As the search for answers about the Hamas attack on Israel continues, some lawmakers and experts have raised questions about whether the Palestinian terrorist group managed to obtain American weapons to use against Israelis.
Ukraine’s Belief: Russia Supplied Hamas with American Weapons
A top Ukrainian intelligence official said Thursday that Ukraine’s forces believe Russia supplied Hamas with weapons it captured on the battlefield in Ukraine.
Those weapons were manufactured by the United States and the European Union and provided to Ukrainian forces for their war against Russia, Ukrainian intelligence officials said.
The Ukrainians accused Russia of giving the American and European arms to Hamas in order to undermine Western support for continuing aid to Ukraine. The U.S. has sent $113 billion to Ukraine since Russia invaded it last year.
Before the attack, an Israeli Defense Forces commander told Newsweek in June that the IDF had observed American weapons flowing into the Middle East from Ukraine, particularly to Iran. The commander said both Russians, driven by their friendly relationship with Iran, and Ukrainians, driven by money from the arms black market, had sent weapons meant to help Ukrainians.
Israelis were concerned Iran would supply those weapons to Hamas and Hezbollah, an Iran-backed terrorist group based in Lebanon. And, the commander said, the IDF had seen weapons abandoned by American troops in Afghanistan in the hands of Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip.
In 2021, the Taliban seized billions of dollars worth of American equipment from Afghanistan after President Joe Biden ordered a hasty withdrawal of U.S. troops.
By January of this year, some of those weapons had surfaced in an armed conflict in India, NBC News reported, and experts warned that American equipment and arms from Afghanistan were likely to end up with militants all over the world.
Two days before the attack on Israel, IDF forces said they seized M-16 rifles from terrorists in Gaza. The M-16 is an American-made firearm used by the U.S. military.
The Jerusalem Post reported in November 2022 that Israelis had observed an uptick in the number of M-16s that Palestinians had obtained illegally in recent months.
And social media videos featuring Hamas terrorists appeared to show some of the militants brandishing M-16 rifles on the day of their attack on Israel.
The U.S. is the largest global arms exporter, responsible for nearly half of all the weapons exports in the world.
U.S. officials have not said whether they have seen evidence that American-made weapons made their way onto the battlefield in Gaza.
The U.S. has now begun sending arms to Israel in an effort to support its defense against Hamas.
Pentagon officials have already sent missiles to Israel for the IDF to use in its Iron Dome air defense system. If the Israelis invade Gaza, however, the IDF could request more ammunition and arms from the U.S. at a time when the Pentagon is already stretching its supplies to keep Ukrainians armed for the 21st month of its conflict.
Some lawmakers have floated tying Ukrainian and Israeli aid together into one bill when the House GOP resolves its leadership crisis and resumes legislative business.
Republicans have increasingly soured on continuing large amounts of aid to Ukraine without stricter oversight or a better understanding of the U.S. plan to end the war with Russia.
Where Hamas obtained its weapons and funding remains a key question surrounding the war in Israel.
Biden administration officials have said they see no direct proof Iran sponsored the surprise attack on Israel last week.
However, Iran has long served as Hamas’s top benefactor, and its leaders openly celebrated the loss of Israeli civilians after the strike by Hamas on Saturday.
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How can countries involved in conflicts, such as Ukraine and Afghanistan, better control the proliferation of their weapons and prevent their diversion to unauthorized groups?
St reported that the IDF believed these rifles were smuggled into Gaza from the Sinai Peninsula, highlighting a potential loophole in the arms embargo on Hamas. This incident further fueled concerns that American weapons may have made their way into the hands of Hamas militants.
While no concrete evidence has been presented to directly link American weapons to the Hamas attack on Israel, these reports have raised important questions about the oversight and control of American-made military equipment. The possibility that American arms may be ending up in the hands of terrorist organizations poses a significant threat to regional stability and the safety of American allies, such as Israel.
This incident also highlights the challenges faced by countries involved in conflicts, such as Ukraine and Afghanistan, in maintaining control over their weapons and preventing their proliferation. The rise of black markets and the ease with which weapons can be transferred and sold make it imperative for nations to implement stricter measures to track and secure their military equipment.
The United States, as a major supplier of arms globally, bears the responsibility of ensuring that its weapons do not fall into the wrong hands. While it is true that American equipment can be obtained by enemy forces through various means, it is essential for the U.S. to review its export control policies and strengthen mechanisms to prevent unauthorized transfers or theft of its military technology.
This incident should serve as a wake-up call for the international community to exercise greater vigilance and cooperation in monitoring and curtailing the flow of weapons to terrorist groups. A coordinated effort is required to dismantle global arms networks and cut off the supply chains that sustain these groups.
Moreover, it is imperative for countries to enhance their intelligence sharing and cooperate in investigating cases of weapon diversion. The exchange of information and joint operations can help identify and disrupt the illicit trade of American weapons and thwart the plans of terrorist organizations seeking to acquire these armaments.
Furthermore, international bodies, such as the United Nations and the European Union, should enforce stricter regulations and oversight on arms transfers to minimize the risk of weapons falling into the hands of terrorists. These organizations should work closely with member states to establish comprehensive monitoring systems and promote responsible arms trade practices.
The security of American allies, such as Israel, depends on the integrity of American weapons supply chains and the effectiveness of export control measures. It is crucial for the United States to address any vulnerabilities in its systems and take decisive action to prevent further instances of weapon diversion that may compromise regional security.
The ongoing investigation into the Hamas attack on Israel serves as a stark reminder of the complex challenges faced in maintaining control over weapons. It is imperative for all nations to work together to address these issues and ensure that the tools of war do not fall into the wrong hands, undermining global security and endangering innocent lives.
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