Hamas claims Israeli attack on Gaza hospital debunked by lack of concrete evidence

Quds News Network profile on X, a former Twitter account known for supporting Hamas and Hezbollah, recently circulated an image claiming to depict evidence of Israeli snipers shelling Al-Nasser hospital. The photograph in question, however, does not support this claim.

Contrary to their assertions, the image shows an unspent cartridge rather than bullets or signs of their impact, such as damage to walls. This cartridge probably originated from a Hamas weapons stockpile—possibly even located within the hospital itself, if prior incidents are any indication, or the neighboring region.

Examining the Cartridge Shown by Quds News Network: Possible Origin and Use

The cartridge depicted in the photograph is a 12.7x99mm NATO / .50 BMG armor-piercing incendiary round. This type of round is typical in heavy-caliber Browning M2 machine guns and anti-material rifles; the telltale silver tip points to this.

Given its widespread usage, this ammunition is relatively commonplace; the Browning M2 machine gun can be mounted on most forms of transport—land, air, or water. There are several ways Hamas could have procured this ammo, ranging from smuggling operations backed by supportive nations or groups to looting Israeli warehouses or military bases during events like the October 7, 2023 raid.

This variety of cartridges is particularly effective against lightly armored targets or obstacles like walls at ranges of several hundred yards. Produced to standard specifications, these cartridges can pierce roughly 1 inch of steel from 100 yards away. However, some manufacturers like Nammo offer upgraded cartridges that can pierce nearly 1 inch of armored steel at an approximate distance of 765 yards.

These cartridges house bullets weighing between 0.09 - 0.10 lbs; beneath the copper jacket is a lead bullet featuring a penetrator made of hardened steel or tungsten—in more advanced versions—mixed with an incendiary material. This composite aids in penetrating armor or other obstructions with markedly high temperatures.