Israel deploys its Merkava IV Main Battle Tank in the framework of the land operations against Hamas and the Gaza Strip. It is considered as one of the most powerful tanks in the world in terms of protection and firepower.
The Israeli Merkava tank was already used during the first days of HAMAS attacks on Israeli territory. On the first day of the conflict, an undisclosed number of Merkava 4 tanks were reported to have been destroyed or captured by Palestinian forces, according to information published on Social
In September 2023, Israel unveiled its next-generation main battle tank, the Merkava Mark 5, also known as “Barak” (which translates to “lightning” in Hebrew). This new tank is expected to replace all Merkava 4 tanks in the 401st Brigade by the end of 2025. The Barak tank includes advanced features to enhance the survivability and defensive capabilities.