Chinese-Made Weapons Found in Gaza Indicate Beijing’s Alleged Role in Supporting Hamas: Expert

In a significant development, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have reported the discovery of a substantial quantity of Chinese-made weapons in Gaza, raising questions about Beijing’s potential involvement in supporting Hamas’s attacks against Israel.

The weapons were seized from Hamas soldiers during intensified ground and air operations in Gaza, as reported by Israel’s Channel 12 on Dec. 30, 2023. While the specific types and quantities of these weapons remain undisclosed to the public, Israel’s political leadership has reportedly examined samples of the seized arms.

Carice Witte, CEO and founder of SIGNAL Group and an expert on Israel-China relations, expressed skepticism that Hamas directly acquired these weapons from Beijing. She suggested that the weapons may have been obtained through other Middle Eastern countries due to China’s established arms industry and trade relations with the region.

Witte emphasized the need for Israel to verify the situation with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) authorities, highlighting China’s extensive arms industry and well-known trade relations with Middle Eastern nations.

Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, resulting in casualties and hostages. Despite Israel’s vow to eliminate Hamas, China has not condemned the attacks.

The Gaza Health Ministry reported on Jan. 7 that the ongoing conflict has led to nearly 23,000 casualties and the displacement of almost 2 million people.

Hamas officials have previously admitted close ties with the CCP. Ali Baraka, Hamas’s head of overseas country relations in Lebanon, acknowledged collaborations with Russia and China, stating that both countries had engaged with Hamas leaders.

Yuan Hongbing, an Australian-based jurist and commentator, suggested close ties between the CCP and the mastermind behind the Oct. 7 attack, Mohammed Deif. According to Hongbing’s sources, the CCP’s foreign affairs department played a role in Hamas’s preparations for the surprise attack on Israel.

Experts also speculate that the CCP might have contributed to the construction of Gaza’s extensive tunnel network, estimated to consist of 1,300 tunnels totaling over 300 miles.

In addition to supporting Hamas, the CCP has reportedly increased exports to Russia, particularly in the form of digitally controlled machine tools. This surge in exports is believed to have connections to major Chinese firms with close ties to the CCP’s military.

The United States, recognizing the CCP, Russia, and Iran as a new “axis of evil,” faces what Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell described as an immediate threat to national security. The world, according to McConnell, is more endangered today than in previous times.