Outperforming Austrian and Russian Sniper Rifles: Unveiling the Secrets of al-Qassam's Ghoul

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Amidst the relentless defense of the steadfast Palestinian resistance in the Gaza Strip against the aggression of the Israeli Occupation Forces, tactics and preparations honed by the armed units of the resistance over many years come to light.

These preparations have contributed to the legendary resilience of the resistance since October 7, 2023, inflicting unprecedented losses on the Israeli aggression in both equipment and lives.

One of the creations of the resistance, particularly al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), is the sniper rifle the Ghoul, which has claimed the lives of elite officers and soldiers of the Israeli army.

Hoffman's Demise

On March 17, 2024, the al-Qassam Brigades released videos through their Military Media unit, specifically tracking the movements of an Israeli officer responsible for besieging and storming al-Shifa Hospital west of Gaza City before being sniped and killed.

These videos, for the first time, revealed images captured by their monitoring and tracking device during Operation al-Aqsa Flood.

The footage showed al-Qassam fighters tracking the movements of the prominent officer in the Shaldag Unit, Yitzhar Hoffman, before his death by a sniper carrying a Palestinian-made Ghoul rifle.

Hoffman was strolling in a field command center in Gaza with a group of soldiers, about a kilometer away from the besieged al-Shifa Hospital since mid-November 2023.

Al-Qassam deliberately released the video of sniping officer Hoffman after the Israeli Occupation Forces announced his death at the end of January 2024.

On February 22, 2024, al-Qassam Brigades announced that their fighters had executed 57 successful sniper missions since October 7, including 34 with the Ghoul rifle, resulting in the deaths of dozens of Israeli Occupation soldiers.

The rifle played a significant role in the fierce battles that intensified in the eastern axis of Khan Yunis at the beginning of January 2024. In one incident, it sniped 6 soldiers in al-Zana area, and in another operation east of Khan Yunis, it took down 9 Israeli soldiers.

The Journey of the Ghoul

On December 20, 2023, al-Qassam Brigades' military media unit released a video showcasing sniper operations targeting Israeli officers using the Ghoul rifles during confrontations east of Jabalia Camp in northern Gaza.

Titled "We Craft with Our Hands What Reaps Your Heads," the video displayed scenes of manufacturing the Ghoul rifles used in sniper operations against Israeli soldiers during the war.

It also highlighted the rigorous training operations undertaken by al-Qassam snipers with the 14.5 mm Ghoul rifle, known for its lethal range of nearly two kilometers.

The Ghoul rifle ranks among the world's longest sniper rifles, with all its parts locally manufactured in Gaza.

According to a report by CNN on August 4, 2024, the Ghoul rifle exceeds 1.5 meters in length, surpassing advanced sniper rifles like the Austrian Steyr at 1.37 meters and the Russian Dragunov at 1.2 meters.

The Ghoul made its field debut during the 2014 war on the Strip, dubbed the Battle of the Withered Grain (Operation al-ʿAsf al-Ma'kool), or as "Israel" dubbed it "Operation Protective Edge," which lasted 51 days between Palestinian resistance factions and the Israeli Occupation Forces in Gaza.

This was after al-Qassam snipers executed several precise and successful sniper operations against Israeli soldiers from long distances, as revealed in footage capturing the sniper operations during the ground incursion into the Strip.

Ghoul's Men

The military manufacturing unit within al-Qassam Brigades ensured the production of specialized ammunition tailored for the Ghoul rifle to enhance its effectiveness and impact.

The bullets produced came in three specifications: regular rounds for training purposes, incendiary rounds for igniting and exploding inflammable materials, and armor-piercing rounds for targeting Israeli soldiers' body armor and fortifications.

These features were witnessed in numerous incidents where the Ghoul bullets penetrated heavy Israeli helmets, exploding upon impact and causing substantial damage.

The Ghoul bullets could penetrate reinforced bulletproof vests, causing them to disintegrate upon impact and disrupting the systems and equipment used by the Israeli army.

However, these advancements wouldn't have been possible without al-Qassam Brigades' extensive training of a dedicated unit of fighters specifically trained in using the Ghoul rifles.

The unit comprised fighters selected for their unique qualities and underwent years of training, including enduring long periods of waiting in silence, maintaining focus amidst intense battles and bombardments, and demonstrating flexibility in concealment and target sensing, coupled with the precision to make critical execution decisions.

Adnan al-Ghoul

Why did the al-Qassam Brigades choose to name this rifle the Ghoul?

The designation pays tribute to the renowned al-Qassam Brigades martyr known as Adnan al-Ghoul, whose real name was Yahya Jaber al-Ghoul, born in the Beach Camp (al-Shati) west of Gaza in 1958.

Al-Ghoul was one of the prominent pioneers in military manufacturing for Hamas.

Dubbed "Abu Bilal," he was the chief engineer of the military manufacturing and development unit within the movement, revolutionizing the factions' weapon manufacturing capabilities. This was particularly crucial as the import of arms into Palestine was challenging.

The game-changing moment for the Ghoul in the arms industry came when he successfully crafted his first homemade bomb. Despite the scarcity of resources and limited capabilities, he diligently shaped TNT material, molding it into a bomb. This marked a significant leap forward.

Al-Ghoul continued his work in the field of rockets but shifted his focus toward anti-tank shells. He succeeded in manufacturing Batar, which fighters used to fend off ground invasions, achieving significant results in confronting the Israeli Occupying forces throughout the wars that Gaza endured over 15 years.

One of the most notable projects al-Ghoul accomplished before his martyrdom was prominently featured in the resistance against the Israeli aggression in the northern Gaza Strip during the Battle of al-Aqsa Intifada. It was the weapon known as Yasin, inspired by the concept of the RPG-2. This weapon proved effective in battle, enabling the resistance to engage in clashes that crippled many of the Israeli Occupation's vehicles.

Al-Ghoul was martyred on October 21, 2004, on Yaffa Street in Gaza after his car was targeted by an Israeli aircraft. However, he left behind an illustrious legacy, and the resistance immortalized his name by associating it with one of its most significant and potent weapons, the Ghoul rifle.