Is North Korea supplying arms to Palestinian factions?
The Palestinian resistance factions are seeking to conclude weapons deals with Russia, North Korea and China through the black market, yet some say a recent display of weapons was merely for propaganda purposes.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Islamic Jihad's armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, has revealed having in their possession the North Korean-made, shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles, other offensive missiles and the Malyutka anti-tank missile.
The announcement came during the Bond of Blood rally, during which Islamic Jihad displayed the various new weapons in Rafah, in the southern Gaza strip, on July 28, without disclosing the quantities that they currently have in their possession.
Al-Monitor tried to obtain a statement from Abu Ahmed, the official spokesman for the al-Quds Brigades, or any military source of Islamic Jihad, but they refused to comment about information on missiles or the nature of the upcoming period.
Ibrahim al-Madhoun, a political author and analyst at the Center for Future Research, told Al-Monitor, “The Palestinian resistance factions are seeking to buy weapons from anywhere in the world and prefer to obtain sophisticated weapons, given their inability to manufacture them locally. The global black market is filled with the various weapons. The Arab Spring has facilitated the purchase and entry of weapons to the Gaza Strip. Yet in light of the Egyptian destruction of the tunnels and restrictions on the Egyptian-Gazan border today, things have become more complicated.”
