Inside the Seized Arsenal: An Exclusive Look at Hamas, PIJ, and Hezbollah Weaponry at an IDF Base

In the wake of the October 7th attacks and with the ceasefire now collapsed in early 2025, Israel faces a relentless resurgence of conflict with Hamas and its allies. In August 2024, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) granted journalists—including Bernie News Network (BNN)—a rare opportunity to tour a military base and examine weaponry seized from Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and Hezbollah. This unprecedented glimpse into the arsenals and tactics of these groups reveals their cunning evolution in unconventional warfare, a threat made all the more urgent as hostilities flare anew.

Seized Hamas guns and other weaponry

Among the first weapons displayed were AK-47 rifles, a staple of global conflicts due to their durability and ease of use. Variants from the Soviet Union, Iran (like the KL-7.62), and other regions underscored a sprawling arms network fueling Hamas and PIJ. The IDF didn’t detail the smuggling routes, but their presence in Gaza suggests a sophisticated supply chain stretching across borders—perhaps through tunnels or maritime channels. These rifles, rugged enough to fire in sandstorms or after minimal maintenance, equip militants for ambushes and prolonged firefights.

Originally designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov and adopted by the Soviet military in 1949, the AK-47’s simplicity has made it a favorite of irregular forces worldwide. Iran’s versions, adapted with local tweaks, reflect Tehran’s strategy of arming proxies to extend its influence. For Hamas and PIJ, these weapons are more than tools—they’re symbols of a global resistance, smuggled from distant allies to the frontlines of Gaza.

Complementing these rifles, Hamas showcased its ingenuity with the Yasin, a homemade twist on the Soviet RPG-7. Named for a former leader, this rocket-propelled grenade can penetrate Israeli armored vehicles and fortifications. The RPG-7, a Cold War relic, has been adapted with local modifications, highlighting Hamas’ ability to innovate despite scarce resources. In the hands of militants, the Yasin transforms limited means into a potent threat, capable of leveling bunkers or disabling tanks in close-quarters combat. Together, the AK-47s and Yasin illustrate a blend of imported reliability and local resourcefulness, arming Hamas with both versatility and firepower.

Rocket Launch Systems

A Hamas-produced rocket control board featuring high build quality and the Hamas logo.

A Hamas rocket control box built with Arduino boards taken from UNRWA.

A PIJ rocket control box with timers featuring PIJ leader Abu Ata.

The rocket launch systems of Hamas and PIJ ranged from rudimentary setups to strikingly advanced designs. A standout was a Hamas-engineered control system housed in an electrical box, using Arduino microcontrollers—basic components originally supplied by UNRWA for educational programs in computer science and engineering. Militants repurposed these civilian tools into military hardware, enabling remote positioning and precise targeting of rockets aimed at Israeli cities. This ingenuity transforms cheap electronics into instruments of war, boosting their capacity for coordinated barrages.

These systems reveal a shift in tactics: no longer just lobbing unguided projectiles, Hamas and PIJ are refining their ability to strike with intent. The leap from improvised launchers to remotely operated platforms mirrors the adaptability seen in other asymmetric conflicts, amplifying their threat to civilian and military targets alike.

Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)

An explosive made to wrap around both border fence posts and vehicle bollards to blow them up.

TNT explosives thrown by terrorists on October 7th

A plastic cable cover filled with explosives. These were used on Oct 7 to blow the border fences

The garden hose filled with TNT. It was thrown onto power lines and the top of fences and blown.

The tour unveiled a chilling array of IEDs crafted by Hamas—plastic conduits and repurposed metal bars packed with explosives, some tailored to breach Israeli defenses. A notable example was a garden hose labeled “Made in Egypt,” filled with TNT and deployed during the October 7th assaults on border installations. Another device, shaped like a square bracket, was used with deadly precision: terrorists ran up to fence posts and bollards, clamped the bracket around them, and detonated it, delivering a concentrated blast that shattered these defenses. These IEDs can and did kill—claiming lives of soldiers and civilians alike on that day—leaving devastation in their wake.

Though they appear rudimentary, these weapons are engineered for maximum terror, capable of maiming dozens in a single explosion. Their design mirrors tactics from Iraq and Afghanistan, but the scale and coordination in Gaza reflect a higher level of planning. The sheer number of such devices points to meticulous preparation, a cornerstone of Hamas’ strategy to overwhelm Israel’s border security.

Hezbollah Jeep

A Jeep seized from a Hezbollah Radwan tunnel in Lebanon offered a stark contrast to Gaza’s smuggling passages. These tunnels, unlike their simpler counterparts, are meticulously engineered to move vehicles and fighters swiftly and covertly across the border. The captured Jeep, equipped with a machine-gun mount, highlights Hezbollah’s capacity for offensive operations—able to ferry combatants and firepower directly into Israel’s northern frontier. Unearthed during IDF operations in Lebanon, it’s a tangible sign of the group’s ambition to escalate beyond rocket volleys into ground incursions.

Drones from Hamas and Hezbollah

A Hezbollah Drone

Hamas drones

A Hezbollah drone made to be intercepted by Iron Dome. The purpose is to cost as little as possible

Drones added another layer to the arsenal, ranging from modified commercial models that disable Israeli sensors to styrofoam rigs designed to swamp radar. Costing as little as $100 each, these devices exploit a glaring asymmetry: triggering Israel’s Iron Dome—$100,000 per interception—to burn through resources. By contrast, the U.S. employs $32-million MQ-9 Reapers for precision strikes, while Hamas and Hezbollah use swarms of cheap drones to exhaust a high-tech foe. This echoes Vietnam-era guerrilla tactics, where low-cost ingenuity drained superior forces.

The goal isn’t precision but disruption—overloading defenses and forcing costly responses. It’s a stark illustration of how these groups turn the mundane into the menacing.

PIJ and Hamas Rockets

The IDF showcased an array of rockets from PIJ and Hamas, including the Badr-3 and K-70 models. PIJ alone wielded over 1,500 rockets during recent assaults, many capable of reaching Tel Aviv—over 75 kilometers from Gaza. The Badr-3, with a warhead exceeding 250 kilograms, delivers devastation akin to the U.S. M45 tactical missile, used against fortified targets. Yet, unlike the M45’s precision guidance, the Badr-3 prioritizes raw payload over accuracy, a trade-off that maximizes destruction in urban areas.

These rockets mark a leap from the short-range, homemade projectiles of past conflicts. Their range and power threaten cities once considered safe, forcing Israel to rethink its defensive posture against an enemy blending brute force with limited resources.

Iranian Missiles

Missile components from Iran, deployed in the April 2024 and October 1st strikes, loomed large in the display. Used to target urban centers and critical infrastructure, these weapons rival Russia’s Iskander ballistic missile in range and destructive power. Their presence underscores Iran’s deep logistical and military support to Hamas and Hezbollah, amplifying the danger to Israeli civilians far from the battlefront. Fragments from recent attacks—some still scorched from impact—drove home the immediacy of this threat, a reminder of Tehran’s role in sustaining the conflict’s intensity.

This Iranian influence threaded through much of the tour, but it extended far beyond mere weaponry.

Iranian Influence and Propaganda

Books created by both Iran and Hamas for children

Books created by both Iran and Hamas for children

Intelligence materials used by Hamas on October 7th

Orders issued by Hamas on October 7th

Intelligence materials used by Hamas on October 7th

Iran’s role emerged as a troubling undercurrent throughout the tour, its influence stretching beyond missiles to the realms of finance and ideology. The IDF uncovered stacks of Iranian cash and checks—concrete evidence of Tehran’s monetary support—alongside a disturbing collection of propaganda materials. Among these was a children’s book titled Hasan the Resistance, which glorifies a fictional young Palestinian named Hasan in his fight against "Zionists." The text portrays Hasan as a dedicated planner: “Hassan excelled academically and was highly skilled with modern technology… secretly communicating with his fellow mujahideen… driven by his belief in the justice of his cause.”

Another page depicts a Hasidic Jew pointing at a burning Jerusalem, laughing as flames engulf the city. A separate pamphlet recounts the story of Muhannad Halabi, a 19-year-old Palestinian law student from al-Bireh who, on October 3, 2015, carried out the Lions' Gate stabbings in Jerusalem, killing Aaron Benita and Rabbi Nehemia Lavi, and injuring Benita’s wife and toddler, before being killed by police—celebrated as a heroic “mujahid” of the Islamic Jihad Movement.

This isn’t merely about supplying arms; it’s about molding a mindset. Iran’s fusion of funding, weapons, and indoctrination seeks to perpetuate the conflict, ensuring that even as battles subside, the ideology—and the fighters—persist. The cash sustains the war effort, while the propaganda fuels the hatred, a calculated strategy that extends the threat far beyond the battlefield.

Conclusion

This press tour illuminated the tactical prowess of groups like Hamas, PIJ, and Hezbollah, shattering perceptions of them as chaotic or resource-starved. Far from makeshift militias, they showcased remarkable engineering skill and meticulous coordination. Take Hezbollah’s drones: though simpler than cutting-edge military models, they proved devastatingly effective at overloading Israel’s radar and Iron Dome defenses. While a well-equipped army might rely on a handful of sophisticated drones for precision missions, these groups unleashed swarms of low-cost, rudimentary units—some mere styrofoam constructs—to sap Israel’s resources through relentless, expensive countermeasures.

Likewise, the rockets of Hamas and PIJ defy the stereotype of primitive, short-range threats. Capable of striking Tel Aviv and Jerusalem—spanning over 75 kilometers—these weapons rival the reach of professional arsenals. The Badr-3, as highlighted earlier, packs a warhead with the heft of conventional military missiles, trading finesse for raw destructive power that endangers entire urban landscapes.

Equally striking was the ingenuity behind their improvised explosives. The garden hoses stuffed with TNT from the October 7th attacks were no slapdash creations; they were precision-crafted tools designed to cripple vital infrastructure. The sheer abundance of these IEDs betrays a calculated buildup, woven into a larger plan to overrun Israeli defenses with relentless, coordinated strikes.

Such resourcefulness, honed under tight constraints, marks these groups as a potent adversary. The tour laid bare a dual challenge for Israel: not just traditional military dangers, but a cunning brand of asymmetric warfare that turns everyday materials into engines of havoc, pushing the limits of disruption and devastation.