Israeli military weapons stolen and diverted to criminal gangs

Large-scale theft of weapons and ammunition from Israeli military warehouses during the Gaza war has resulted in significant quantities of military-grade hardware falling into the hands of criminal organizations and mafia groups. According to reports from the Israeli public broadcaster KAN, the military may be unable to determine the exact volume of stolen items, as missing ammunition can be falsely recorded as having been used in combat.

Recent incidents in the towns of Sajur and Jaljulia involved the use of LAW anti-tank rockets, while a grenade was reportedly dropped from a drone in Nazareth. The surge in criminal activity involving hand grenades has risen from 75 cases in 2023 to 988 in 2024, averaging nearly three incidents per day.

Investigations by the Lahav 433 police unit have also identified a sharp increase in the use of military-grade drones. Authorities are currently investigating reports of companies within the Bedouin community purchasing large-scale drones using fraudulent invoices, which are suspected to be used for smuggling operations. Israeli police, the military, and the Shin Bet are currently assessing the scale of the threat posed by these technologies.