Israel displays captured Hezbollah and Hamas arsenal including Nazi-era guns

Fox News Digital gained rare access to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Tzrifin Base in Central Israel, where a vast collection of confiscated weapons used by Hezbollah and Hamas is stored. The arsenal includes rockets, grenades, drones, sniper rifles, automated weapons, anti-tank rocket launchers, mortars, and other military firepower. The weapons originate from various sources, including Iran, Russia, China, and local producers in Lebanon and Gaza, and even include a Nazi-era MG-34 machine gun seized at a Hezbollah compound in Lebanon. The IDF stated that these weapons were part of the war machinery used against Israeli civilians and the IDF since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, and that Hezbollah also used weapons against Lebanese civilians.

The IDF officer leading the tour, Sharon-Kettler, explained that the Nazi machine gun was used for propaganda or morale purposes by the Iranian-backed terrorists. The seized arsenal also includes motorcycles, such as an Egyptian Halawa Motors motorcycle that was used to take Israeli hostages on October 7. The Hamas attack killed over 1,200 people, including more than 40 American citizens. The IDF also captured rockets from Palestinian Islamic Jihad that were used as propaganda dummies during parades against Israel in Gaza.

The storage facility was packed with Russian-produced AK-47 automatic rifles and newer versions like AK-103 and AK-104, captured in southern Lebanon. Light sniper rifles, some made in Iran and some Russian, are common among Hezbollah and Hamas. The IDF also seized a highly decorated Turkish hunting rifle used by Hezbollah. Additionally, the IDF captured all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) used by Hezbollah to hold rockets and terrorists, with one ATV designed to hold six rockets with launchers. Hundreds of mortars were found in Lebanon.

The IDF emphasized that Hamas and Hezbollah employed sophisticated methods to transform civilian vehicles into high-intensity offensive weapons, relying on dual-use technology. The seized arsenal highlights the scale and diversity of weaponry used by these groups, underscoring the ongoing security challenges faced by Israel. The display at the Tzrifin Base serves as evidence of the threats and the IDF's efforts to neutralize them.