What we know about the booby-trapped vehicles used by Israel in Gaza and Lebanon
Journalists and civilians have been reporting that Israel is using “booby-trapped robots” or “barrel bombs” in the Gaza Strip. Most of these reports come from Jabaliya, located in the northern part of Gaza, where the Israeli army has been relentlessly bombing since October 6. Here’s what we know about these vehicles.
In a video taken in Jabaliya and published on October 12, witnesses say they saw two barrels packed with explosives, right before an explosion. They point out a crater in the midst of torn-up buildings – the place where they say the detonation took place.
The video was filmed after the explosion, so it is impossible to determine what caused it. Recently, however, residents of Jabaliya have claimed on social media that Israel has been using "robots" or vehicles filled with explosives as mobile bombs in northern Gaza. According to Gaza's civil defence agency, the camp has been under intense bombardment since October 6.
Ismail al-Thawabta, director of the Hamas-run government media office, told the Turkish media outlet Anadolu that the Israeli Army was using “booby-trapped robots” as part of its operation in Jabaliya.
"More and more mobile robots are being used. These devices, that can be controlled remotely, enter Palestinian streets and houses, and explode, leading to huge human and material loss," he said on October 15.
Barrels of explosives?
These barrels could contain explosives, although they may not be full.
Other images of potentially booby-trapped M113 vehicles have been circulating online in the last few weeks.
