China Denies Supplying Weapons to Hamas in Gaza

By Yoni Weiss

China’s Defense Ministry spokesperson Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang denied exporting arms to Hamas in Gaza, refuting reports suggesting the use of Chinese-manufactured weapons in the region, according to a report on NBC News on Thursday.

The spokesperson emphasized that China adheres strictly to principles, including contributing to the legitimate self-defense capability of the recipient country, avoiding risks to regional peace and stability, and refraining from interfering in the internal affairs of other nations.

The statement clarified that, since the start of the war in the Gaza Strip, China has provided humanitarian aid such as food, health care, and first aid to Palestinians in Gaza but has not supplied any weapons.

Last month, Israel’s Channel 12 reported that a “massive” number of Chinese weaponry used by Palestinian terrorists was seized by the IDF in Gaza.

Following the report, Carice Witte, CEO and founder of SIGNAL Group and an expert on China-Israel relations, said that while it is certainly possible Chinese weapons have made it to the Palestinian terrorist group’s hands, it was not bought directly from Beijing.

“China has an extensive arms industry,” Witte said. “By definition, it does not sell weapons to non-state entities, it certainly does sell weapons to countries in the [Middle East].

According to Witte, those responsible for the weaponry’s presence in Gaza are either countries or independent Chinese actors illegally selling weapons to Gazan-based groups.

“Trade relations between China and Middle Eastern nations are well known, even with those sanctioned by the West,” she added. “It is not impossible that such weaponry ends up in the wrong hands.”