Ramallah – A Palestinian military expert has informed that the Israeli occupation army has utilized various and latest types of weapons in its aggression on Gaza since October 7, and has also halted the export of weapons abroad, in addition to what it receives through the aerial bridge with the United States to bolster its arsenal.
Retired Major General Youssef Al Sharqawi, in his conversation with Al Jazeera Net, mentioned that the occupation used all the traditional weapons available to its military, which is considered one of the most powerful armies in the region and the world.
He noted that among the weapons used are those being tested in preparation for other battles the United States may engage in globally. The following are the main weapons used:
Aircraft: The occupation deployed its fleet of aircraft, especially the F-35 fighter jets, along with planes from previous generations such as the F-15 and F-16. Additionally, all types of helicopters were used, including Apache and Cobra, as well as modern reconnaissance aircraft, particularly unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Israel also received UAVs from Britain and Germany for tracking and surveillance, as well as ground scanning to locate Israeli prisoners in Gaza's tunnels.
Heavy Equipment: The Palestinian expert says the occupation used the tank weapon including the latest generations of Merkava tanks, models 2 and 4, as well as the Namer armored personnel carrier that accompanies the advancing tank columns.
Artillery weapons were also used to target specific points in Gaza, especially the 155mm field artillery and the 105mm howitzer.
Light Weapons: Israel introduced modern rifles and advanced versions of the M16 rifles and medium machine guns, as well as sniper rifles in a noticeable manner throughout the conflict.
Engineering Corps: The Israeli engineering corps played an unprecedented role in this battle to combat tunnels and detonate them, as well as to demolish buildings to aid the advance of their tanks, and to create breaches in the walls of intact buildings to secure a surprising proximity to the resistance targets for their soldiers.
Naval Forces: The occupation used the navy, including ships and boats to accompany the advancing tank columns with landings on the beaches, and for bombardment as well.
Shells: Israel received from the United States advanced versions of thermobaric shells for striking the foundations of selected towers and buildings, as well as shells that cause destruction in residential blocks such as "self-guided shells" and white phosphorus bombs.
It also utilized advanced versions of bunker buster bombs for strong concrete fortifications underground, like shelters, fortifications, and tunnels, testing them in the Gaza Strip as a precursor for upcoming battles of the American army in Ukraine and elsewhere.
Aerial Bridge and Interception Missiles: Israel, through an aerial bridge, received all it needed via more than 220 flights from the USA, and in addition to the bridge, it stopped exporting weapons from its factories abroad.
The United States also provided Israel with a large stockpile of Iron Dome, Slingshot, and Hetz missiles, and introduced Patriot missile teams to protect high-value targets in Israel.
Bombs and Phosphorus: Al Sharqawi pointed to the American President Joe Biden "bypassing the Pentagon in providing Israel with artillery shells and tanks and with the modern DIME bombs that turned children and residents of Gaza into shreds."
He stated that the elite of the elite forces in the Israeli army were tasked with revenge, destruction, killing, and crushing the resistance in Gaza, with the aim of "erasing what happened on October 7, 2023, from the awareness of Palestinians, Israelis, and the world, with scenes far from those of previous traditional wars."
Israel also bombed Gaza with flechette and "white phosphorus" ammunition, which caused severe burns and respiratory issues for those targeted.
Artificial Intelligence: In addition to what Al Sharqawi mentioned, Al Jazeera Net's "Midan" website highlighted in a previous report the introduction of new weapons and the role of artificial intelligence in the Gaza battle.
The report, citing the "Yedioth Ahronoth" newspaper, claimed that among the new weapons was a "high-precision mortar shell, used for the first time in the current war on the Gaza Strip."
It added that the Israeli army acquired 100 American short-range reconnaissance drones that rely on artificial intelligence, in addition to already used American self-navigating drones.
The report discussed two new shoulder-fired missiles, "Leo" and "MGM-1 Matador," which are 50% larger than the current missiles available to the occupation army and possess a wider range of destruction.
It referred to the use by the occupation army of new technologies for night vision for the first time in the war through the use of the new "IDO" night vision device, providing three-dimensional imagery and ease of use for extended periods.
Regarding the outcomes of deploying such an arsenal, data from the Government Media Office in Gaza indicated that the Israeli army bombarded the area with more than 45,000 rockets and bombs, weighing over 65,000 tons.
According to the office, the Israeli aggression destroyed a total of 69,000 housing units completely, and about 290,000 units partially, in addition to 134 government headquarters, 295 universities and schools, and 142 mosques, during the first 97 days of aggression.
On Sunday, the Ministry of Health in Gaza announced the death toll had risen to 23,843, in addition to approximately 7,000 missing and 60,317 injured.
