Title: Hamas Allegedly Uses North Korean Weapons in Recent Assault on Israel
In a surprising turn of events, evidence has emerged suggesting that Hamas fighters used North Korean weapons during their October 7th assault on Israel. Despite North Korea denying any involvement in arming the militant group, several sources, including South Korean officials, experts on North Korean arms, and an analysis of captured weapons by Israel, point towards the use of North Korea’s F-7 rocket-propelled grenade by Hamas.
The F-7 rocket-propelled grenade is commonly deployed against armored vehicles and has been spotted in conflict zones such as Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and the Gaza Strip. North Korea’s track record of supporting Palestinian militant groups and the discovery of its arms in previous interdicted supplies further solidifies the likelihood of their involvement.
Hamas, in its propaganda videos and photos, has showcased fighters equipped with a launcher and rocket-propelled grenades that bear a striking resemblance to the design elements of the F-7. Additionally, Israeli forces reportedly seized weapons from the battlefield, with their design elements matching those of the F-7.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff have specifically identified the F-7 as one of the North Korean weapons employed by Hamas during the attack. Despite this mounting evidence, North Korea’s mission to the United Nations has chosen not to respond to requests for comment and has dismissed the claims as “groundless and false rumors.”
Experts also believe that Hamas might have utilized other North Korean weapons, such as the Bulsae guided anti-tank missile and the Type 58 self-loading rifle, the latter being similar to the Soviet-era RPG-7 rocket-propelled grenade but with noticeable differences.
The connection between Iran and North Korean weapons cannot be ignored either. It is widely believed that Iran has been supplying North Korean weapons to Palestinian militant groups, including Hamas. Iran has even modeled some of its ballistic missiles based on North Korean variants.
This revelation further highlights North Korea’s involvement in illicit arms trading, as suspicions also arise regarding its supply of weapons to Russia amid the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. Recently, the White House revealed that over 1,000 containers of military equipment and munitions were delivered by North Korea to Russia.
As tensions escalate in the Middle East, the revelation of North Korean arms being used by Hamas raises concerns over the global arms trade, the involvement of rogue nations, and the potential for further destabilization in the region. With Hamas being a designated terrorist organization, international efforts must be made to curb the flow of illicit weapons and hold accountable those responsible for supplying them.
*Word count: 373*
