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The conflict has been waged since 2007 between Israel, a state with its own army, and Hamas, an armed militia that dominates the Gaza Strip, a territory of 360 square km. In this En 5 Minutos we explain what weapons and military capabilities the opposing sides have in the new escalation in the Middle East.
Since the Islamist group Hamas attacked Israel and its citizens on October 7, it has unleashed all its anger against Gaza and other Palestinian territories and has promised that any member of Hamas “is a dead man.” Thousands of civilians have been exposed to the harshness of war.
Israel is one of the States that spend the most money per capita on defense in the world, with around $2,500 per person per year. It is only surpassed by Qatar. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Israel spent $23 billion on defense in 2022.
Furthermore, it is a close ally of the United States in the Middle East and this has been noted in the large sums of money that the United States allocates in aid to the State of Israel, to which it has dedicated – from its creation after the Second World War to 2022-, according to the United States Congressional Research Service, 150,000 million dollars, of which this entity highlights that the majority “is in the form of military assistance.”
Currently, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, based in the United Kingdom, Israel has, for air attacks, 345 fighter aircraft, including some of the famous American F-35sBut also has 142 helicopters. For ground attacks, 1,500 tanks and other armored vehicles and for attacks by sea, five submarines and 49 coastal combat ships.
Among its defense equipment is also the famous shield Iron Dome, designed to intercept short-range missiles. Since it was installed in 2011, this air defense system has intercepted thousands of rockets launched from Gaza. However, Hamas’ recent attack on Israel managed to circumvent it by firing 4,400 rockets in a short period of time, in a diversionary maneuver to gain entry into Israel by air, sea and land.
Finally, although it is not a declared nuclear state, that Israel has nuclear weapons is an open secret, notes the French news agency AFP, and the US-based Arms Control Association places the number at 90. of nuclear warheads in its possession.
What weapons does Hamas have?
On the other side of the board is Hamas, the Islamist movement that has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007. Although it is one of the most heavily armed organizations in the world and has the advantage of its performance in guerrilla warfare, it is far from the military power of an Army. like the Israeli.
Their number of combatants is uncertain. According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, there are between 15,000 and 20,000, but Israel raises the number to 30,000 and Hamas claims that it has 40,000 members.
In 2021, Israeli intelligence estimated that Hamas and Islamic Jihad, another militant group in Gaza, had about 30,000 missiles in his arsenal. According to the Associated Press, Hamas’ arsenal also includes assault rifles, heavy machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and anti-tank weaponsamong others.
Hamas has reported that it manufactures weapons inside Gaza and some experts point to collaboration with Iran. The Center for Strategic and International Studies says the group has acquired some of its weapons through smuggling and support from the Persian state. The weapons would reach the enclave through tunnels and ships that would circumvent a strict blockade imposed by Israel on Gaza 17 years ago.
In the midst of the escalation of the conflict, there are concerns that the war will drag down other actors such as the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah. This movement is a declared enemy of Israel and has engaged in some clashes in recent days with the Israeli Army. This group has also expressed its support for Hamas.
An involvement of Hezbollah in the conflict could also draw in Iran, since Tehran supports the Lebanese militia.
But there is also concern that the United States will become even more involved in the conflict. So far, Washington has deployed aircraft carriers, fighter jets and weapons shipments. It has also made 2,000 soldiers available to Israel to carry out intelligence, surveillance, transportation or medical assistance, although it assures that its troops will not fight.
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