'Bullets used in Hamas' Oct 7 attack were smuggled in food aid bags'

The Israeli military claims that Hamas employed a covert method to transport bullets for the October 7 attack in Gaza. It is alleged that up to 50 rice sacks discovered after the incident are believed to have served as ammunition pouches for weapons such as AK47s, Dragunov sniper rifles, and MPK machine guns. Israeli investigators, during a display of recovered military equipment, asserted that the sacks indicate a potential smuggling route through humanitarian aid. Lt Col Idan Sharon-Kettler, deputy commander of the enemy equipment retrieval unit, dismissed the idea that these 1kg rice sacks were legitimately used for food and then repurposed for terrorism, emphasizing their inefficiency as ammunition pouches. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and intelligence agencies expressed astonishment at the scale and effectiveness of the early morning attack, despite Gaza being under strict blockade for 17 years. Israel has previously accused Hamas of using humanitarian aid shipments for weapon smuggling. A showcase at a military base displayed a range of weapons recovered from towns and kibbutzim near Gaza, including AK47s, mines, mortars, heavy machine guns, and rockets. Lt Col Sharon-Kettler highlighted the use of “thermobaric” munitions, claiming they were responsible for burning families alive in their homes. The display also featured anti-armour weapons, “sacrifice” devices used against civilians, and explosives allegedly originating from Iran. Israel maintains that its operation aims to eradicate Hamas from Gaza, but the civilian population is paying a significant toll, with thousands of casualties, including over 4,100 children, according to the UN, NGOs, and Hamas-controlled authorities. Israel accuses Iran of supporting Hamas in preparing for the attack, emphasizing the sophisticated military equipment used and the extensive planning involved. Lt Col Sharon-Kettler stated, “This is not something that has been cooked in someone’s backyard. This is years-long planning, a lot of funding, huge money.”