Thousands of unexploded Israeli munitions remain scattered across Gaza

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
12 Jan 2025 08:18
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The report has highlighted that a significant portion—nearly 40%—of the US bombs deployed on Gaza at the outset of the war were unguided, commonly referred to as "dumb bombs".

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A UN team inspects an unexploded bomb lying on a main road in Khan Younis, Gaza (©UNOCHA)

Thousands of unexploded munitions fired by the Israeli army have remained scattered throughout Gaza since October 7, 2023, according to Israeli media, as reported by Anadolu Agency.

The report highlighted that the Israeli army has launched tens of thousands of munitions into Gaza, with the air force alone responsible for dropping approximately 30,000 bombs since the outset of the war.

“Thousands of bombs dropped by Israeli aircraft in Gaza did not detonate, including some weighing a ton," Channel 12 noted.

The report also disclosed that some US-supplied weapons delivered to "Israel" during the war experienced technical malfunctions. It further stated, “Nearly 40% of the bombs dropped on Gaza at the start of the war were unguided or "dumb’ bombs”.

Clearup to take 14 years

In April 2024, the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) estimated that approximately 7,500 tons of unexploded ordnance remain scattered across Gaza, with the cleanup expected to take up to 14 years.

The report also claimed that Hamas fighters, utilizing expertise reportedly acquired from Hezbollah and Iran, have repurposed unexploded Israeli munitions to construct IEDs, some of which have targeted Israeli soldiers.

Israeli Channel 12, quoting unnamed senior military officers, revealed late Friday that the Israeli army had initiated an investigation into whether Palestinians used unexploded munitions to manufacture an improvised explosive device (IED) that reportedly killed three Israeli soldiers in northern Gaza last week.

On Wednesday, the Israeli army confirmed that an IED detonated under a tank in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza, resulting in the deaths of three soldiers and injuries to three others.

Since October 7, 2023, the Israeli genocide in Gaza has resulted in the killing of over 46,000 people, predominantly women and children, despite a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire.

In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Security Minister Yoav Gallant, charging them with war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Concurrently, "Israel" is facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in the enclave.