Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad were prepared for Operation Protective Edge. With the help of weapon smuggling and tunnels, Hamas armed itself and prepared for the arrival of the IDF’s soldiers. But we were also prepared.
The weapons in the photo below were all aimed at IDF soldiers by terrorists during the ground phase of Operation Protective Edge. “We did not confiscate civilian equipment,” said Col. (Res.) Moti Zabarsky, the commander of the unit responsible for clearing the weapons found in Gaza. “All of these weapons were used by terrorist organizations in attempt to harm IDF soldiers, but we were able to neutralize them in the field.”
“As a result of the vast amount of weapons we seized, the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip now need to invest in new purchases and therefore need more money. When we confiscated their equipment and their weapons, we created a new burden they have to face before they become operationally competent again,” explained Col. (Res.) Zabarsky.
