The weapons that will be used in close-quarter combat as Israel goes door-to-door to eliminate Hamas in Gaza: Infantrymen wield assault rifles, grenade launchers and machineguns as they are told military’s plan

The Israeli army is currently pitching its tents on the Gaza border as it prepares for an invasion to eliminate Hamas forces.

Tens of thousands of armed IDF soldiers have formed a column alongside dozens of armored tanks along the Gaza border, preparing for what top defense officials say will be a “three-phase war” fought largely by the land army.

Global Firepower, which ranks the world’s militaries in annual reviews, says Israel had the 18th strongest military in the world in 2023, making it one of the strongest armies in the Middle East.

MailOnline has reviewed and analyzed several weapons seen by IDF soldiers ahead of the expected invasion of Gaza.

X95 Bullpup assault carbine

The X95 is standard issue among IDF soldiers and is produced by Israeli Weapon Industries (IWI), primarily for use by Special Forces personnel.

The bullpup construction, which means the firing grip is forward of where the magazines are loaded, means it is generally lighter and more maneuverable than other rifles of a similar size.

The carbine, a smaller and lighter type of rifle, weighs just over six and a half pounds and can fire up to 1,000 rounds per minute.

However, the magazine can only hold 30 rounds, meaning a soldier would have to reload his weapons less than two seconds after holding the trigger.

The Pic Rail mounting system, which runs on top of the weapon, is most commonly used to attach red-dot sights, but the X95 also comes with a folding iron sight as a backup.

It has been the standard weapon for the IDF since November 2009, replacing the M16 and M4 as the weapon of choice for Israeli forces.

M203 grenade launcher

The M203 is a grenade launcher that bolts onto a variety of standard IDF guns, including the X95.

The launcher, which attaches to the bottom of many guns, can launch grenades up to 380 meters away, but is much more effective at 160 meters.

The single-shot weapon, which weighs 3.5 pounds loaded, must be manually reloaded after each round. You do this by sliding the aluminum barrel of the weapon forward, before inserting the bullet and sliding the barrel backwards.

Although it is usually attached to guns, it can be used as a standalone weapon by mounting it on a separate assembly.

It is a widely used weapon and can be found in service with notable units including the Irish Army Ranger Wing and the British Special Air Service.

Negev NG5-SF light machine gun

The Negev is a light machine gun that was developed in the late 1980s and slowly entered service over the next decade, eventually becoming more or less a standard LMG issued to IDF soldiers.

The belt-fed system can fire rounds up to 1,300 yards, although it is only effective up to 870 yards.

The weapon can fire up to 1,050 rounds per minute, depending on the rate of fire chosen by the soldier wielding the weapon.

Weighing just 16 pounds, the weapon is popular with Israeli soldiers for its ease of use and maneuverability in the field as it can be used by just one person, according to modernfirearms.net.

Israel has revealed it expects a “three-phase war” with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the first time the country has drawn up a long-term plan to tackle its bloodiest conflict in decades.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told Israeli lawmakers that the IDF expects to begin its three-phase war with airstrikes and ground maneuvers.

The Israeli army then plans to continue crushing pockets of resistance by Hamas fighters.

Gallant said that once this is completed, Israel’s “responsibility for life in the Gaza Strip” will cease, following the warning it issued to Gaza residents to leave the country “immediately.”

Tens of thousands of Israeli soldiers and dozens of tanks and armored vehicles are now positioned at the border – ready for a ground assault on the Gaza Strip, where 203 hostages are being held captive by Hamas terrorists.

The massing of artillery and troops at the border comes after heavy machine gun fire was heard along the border in the early hours of this morning.

And today, Israel continued to bombard Gaza with a relentless stream of airstrikes, with the IDF claiming its fighter jets had hit more than 100 Hamas terrorist “operational targets” in a single night. The attacks destroyed tunnel shafts, ammunition depots and dozens of operational headquarters, the IDF said.

It comes after Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant visited troops along the Gaza border on Thursday and told them they would soon see the Palestinian enclave “from the inside”.

An IDF infantry commander told DailyMail.com on Thursday that they were ready to invade, adding that there was “a very high level of optimism” among his troops.

Israeli leaders are determined to rid Gaza of its Hamas rulers, even if it means going from house to house in an operation that could take “years” and lead to further major losses among Palestinians.