ALBAWABA - A report from the Hebrew newspaper Maariv has found major, previously unknown flaws in the Israeli military that are connected to their plans to fully occupy the Gaza Strip. The results show that there is a lack of tools and damage after two years of constant fighting.
The story says the problem isn't just with the backup troops, but with a lot of military equipment that is needed for operations. Tanks have been taken out of service because their engines broke down after they had been used for too many hours. Armoured personnel carriers, helicopters, and planes have also been used for too long compared to what the maker recommends.
It's not just big gear that gets worn down. Personal gear that soldiers use in battle has been badly damaged. This includes machine guns, rocket launchers, night vision devices, protective belts, and helmets. Avi Eshkenazi, a military expert, said that many troops and units are now actively looking for new or used equipment that is still in good shape so that they can keep fighting.
The army has admitted that it can't keep up with the rate of replacing equipment. Maariv reports that there is a growing market in Israel for used military equipment. To get things like helmets and protective outfits that they need for battle, some military units have turned to online efforts.
The public's attention has mostly been on how stressed out Israel's reserve forces are, which is why the planned operation in Gaza was pushed back to October. However, the study says that the army's weapons is also in bad shape, which is an even bigger problem.
Military leaders have tried to keep the problem quiet so as not to hurt the spirit of the troops and so that Palestinian groups don't take advantage of the situation. However, the results show that the army may not be as ready for action if it doesn't keep up with the needs of the ground when it comes to replacing old weapons.
