Thursday Jun 19, 2025
NEWSLETTER
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • Iran War
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • Iran War
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
Home Analysis

How did Hamas grow its arsenal under the blockade?

In latest clashes, Islamist terrorist group has fired over 4,000 rockets at Israel in recent clashes, some hitting deeper in Israeli territory and with greater accuracy than ever before.

by  AP and ILH Staff
Published on  05-21-2021 08:16
Last modified: 05-21-2021 12:17
How did Hamas grow its arsenal under the blockade?AP / Ariel Schalit

An Israeli firefighter walks next to cars hit by a missile fired from the Gaza Strip, in the southern Israeli town of Ashkelon, May 11, 2021 | File photo: AP / Ariel Schalit

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

In this fourth war between Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers, the Islamist terrorist group has fired more than 4,000 rockets at Israel, some hitting deeper in Israeli territory and with greater accuracy than ever before.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

The unprecedented barrages reaching north of Tel Aviv, coupled with drone launches and even an attempted underwater drone attack, have put on dramatic display a homegrown arsenal that has only expanded despite a 14-year Israeli-Egyptian blockade of the coastal strip.

"The magnitude of [Hamas] bombing is much bigger, and the precision is much better in this conflict," said Mkhaimar Abusada, a professor of political science at Al-Azhar University in Gaza City. "It's shocking what they've been able to do under siege."

Israel has argued that the blockade is essential for preventing a Hamas arms build-up and cannot be lifted.

Here's a look at how, despite intense surveillance and tight restrictions, Hamas managed to amass its cache.

From crude bombs to long-range rockets

Since the founding of Hamas in 1987, the group's secretive military wing – which operates alongside a more visible political organization – evolved from a small militia into what Israel describes as a "semi-organized military."

In its early days, the group carried out deadly shootings and kidnappings of Israelis. It killed hundreds of Israelis in suicide bombings during the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising, which erupted in late 2000.

As violence spread, the group started producing rudimentary "Qassam" rockets. Powered partly by molten sugar, the projectiles reached just a few kilometers (miles), flew wildly, and caused little damage, often landing inside Gaza.

After Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, Hamas assembled a secret supply line from longtime patrons Iran and Syria, according to the IDF. Longer-range rockets, powerful explosives, metal, and machinery flooded Gaza's southern border with Egypt. Experts say the rockets were shipped to Sudan, trucked across Egypt's vast desert, and smuggled through a warren of narrow tunnels beneath the Sinai Peninsula.

In 2007, when Hamas fighters pushed the Palestinian Authority out of Gaza and took over governing the coastal strip, Israel and Egypt imposed their tight blockade.

According to the IDF, the smuggling continued, gaining steam after Mohammed Morsi, an Islamist leader and Hamas ally, was elected president of Egypt in 2012 before being overthrown by the Egyptian army.

Gaza militants stocked up on foreign-made rockets with enhanced ranges, like Katyushas and the Iranian-supplied Fajr-5, which were used during 2008 and 2012 clashes with Israel.

A homegrown industry

After Morsi's overthrow, Egypt cracked down on and shut hundreds of smuggling tunnels. In response, Gaza's local weapons industry picked up.

"The Iranian narrative is that they kick-started all the missile production in Gaza and gave them the technical and knowledge base, but now the Palestinians are self-sufficient, said Fabian Hinz, an independent security analyst focusing on missiles in the Middle East. "Today, most of the rockets we're seeing are domestically built, often with creative techniques."

In a September documentary aired by the Al Jazeera satellite news network, rare footage showed Hamas terrorists reassembling Iranian rockets with ranges of up to 80 kilometers (50 miles) and warheads packed with 175 kilograms (385 pounds) of explosives. Hamas terrorists opened unexploded Israeli missiles from previous strikes to extract explosive materials. They even salvaged old water pipes to repurpose as missile bodies.

To produce rockets, Hamas chemists and engineers mix propellant from fertilizer, oxidizer, and other ingredients in makeshift factories. Key contraband is still believed to be smuggled into Gaza in a handful of tunnels that remain in operation.

Hamas has publicly praised Iran for its assistance, which experts say now primarily takes the form of blueprints, engineering know-how, motor tests, and other technical expertise. The US State Department reports that Iran provides $100 million a year to Palestinian armed groups.

The arsenal on display

The Israel Defense Forces estimate that before the current round of fighting, Hamas had an arsenal of 7,000 rockets of varying ranges that can cover nearly all of Israel, as well as 300 anti-tank and 100 anti-aircraft missiles. It also has acquired dozens of unmanned aerial vehicles and has an army of some 30,000 militants, including 400 naval commandos.

In this latest war, Hamas has unveiled new weapons like attack drones, unmanned submarine drones dispatched into the sea and an unguided rocket called "Ayyash" with a 250-kilometer (155-mile) range. Israel claims those new systems have been thwarted or failed to make direct strikes.

The IDF says its current operation has dealt a tough blow to Hamas' weapons research, storage, and production facilities, but Israeli officials acknowledge they have been unable to halt the constant barrages of rocket fire.

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

Tags: GazaHamasIsraelPalestinians

Related Posts

US army sends message to Iran - with quote from 'Harbu Darbu'IDF Spokesperson's Unit

What an Israeli strike on Iran might look like

by Yoav Limor

If Israel ultimately decides to strike Iran, the range of potential scenarios spans from a complete obliteration of Tehran’s nuclear...

India and Pakistan on brink of war: How the region edged toward nuclear escalationAFP

India and Pakistan on brink of war: How the region edged toward nuclear escalation

by Elchanan Shpayizer/Makor Rishon

A deadly terror attack in Kashmir has reignited one of the world’s most volatile conflicts. What triggered the latest flare-up,...

Eight tough questions about Trump's Gaza takeover plan

All the reasons Israel doesn't want US control over Gaza

by Nitzan David Fuchs/Makor Rishon

Trump’s plan may sound tempting, but if our greatest ally becomes our next-door neighbor, relations could sour quickly.

Menu

Analysis 

Archaeology

Blogpost

Business & Finance

Culture

Exclusive

Explainer

Environment

 

Features

Health

In Brief

Jewish World

Judea and Samaria

Lifestyle

Cyber & Internet

Sports

 

Diplomacy 

Iran & The Gulf

Gaza Strip

Politics

Shopping

Terms of use

Privacy Policy

Submissions

Contact Us

About Us

The first issue of Israel Hayom appeared on July 30, 2007. Israel Hayom was founded on the belief that the Israeli public deserves better, more balanced and more accurate journalism. Journalism that speaks, not shouts. Journalism of a different kind. And free of charge.

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

  • Home
  • Iran War
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

Newsletter

[contact-form-7 id=”508379″ html_id=”isrh_form_Newsletter_en” title=”newsletter_subscribe”]

  • Home
  • Iran War
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il