Profile
- Type
- Surface-laid mine
- Conflict side
- Hamas
- Origin
- Multiple countries
- Service note
- Modern
Infantry Weapons
Surface-laid landmine
Surface-laid landmines are explosive mines emplaced on or near the ground surface for route denial, perimeter defense, and channelization. In the Israel-Hamas War, reports said Hamas laid mines in Gaza, and analysts described some of them as surface-laid and easier to detect and remove than buried mines.
- Conflict side
- Hamas
- Built by
- Various manufacturers
- Built in
- Multiple
Service History
- Used by
- Hamas
- Wars
- Israel-Hamas War
Production History
- Built by
- Various manufacturers
- Built in
- Multiple
Specifications
- Placement
- On, on top of, or just under the ground surface
- Initiation
- Triggered by pressure, proximity, contact, or command detonation depending on the variant
- Role
- Area denial and route disruption
- Detectability
- Surface-laid mines are generally easier to detect and remove than buried mines
Conflict Usage
- Israel-Hamas War
- Side: HamasRole: Route denial minefield
During the Israel-Hamas War, Hamas laid surface-laid mines along roads in Gaza to slow or channel Israeli movement.
Surface-laid landmine Images
Related Weapon Systems
Building booby-trap improvised explosive deviceImprovised explosive deviceBuilding booby-trap improvised explosive devices in the Israel-Hamas War were improvised, victim-activated traps hidden in homes and other structures to slow clearing forces and threaten troops moving through doors, stairwells, rooms, and rubble in Gaza.
Explosively formed penetrator improvised explosive deviceImprovised explosive deviceThis Hamas-linked explosively formed penetrator improvised explosive device is a locally made anti-armor charge built around a concave copper liner. During the Israel-Hamas War, IDF seizures in Gaza and press briefings tied Shawaz EFP variants to Hamas's armored-vehicle threat and October 7 attack kits.
Magnetic or sticky anti-vehicle bombImprovised explosive deviceMagnetic or sticky anti-vehicle bombs are improvised explosive devices that are manually attached to armored vehicles so the blast lands at close range. In the Israel-Hamas War, reporting from Khan Younis described Hamas using a sticky bomb against an Israeli tank, showing how the device fits urban anti-armor ambushes in Gaza.
TC/6 anti-tank mineAnti-tank blast mineThe TC/6 is an Italian plastic-cased, pressure-activated minimum-metal anti-tank blast mine. In the Israel-Hamas War, AP reported that weapons recovered from Hamas fighters by the Israel Defense Forces appeared to include TC/6 mines, making the design visible in Gaza conflict reporting even though open-source identification cannot rule out Iranian copies.
Tunnel-Entrance Booby-Trap Improvised Explosive DeviceImprovised explosive deviceThis Hamas-improvised explosive device was used to booby-trap tunnel entrances in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas War, making underground access hazardous for combat engineers and assault troops.
Carpet fuel-air mine-clearing rocketFuel-air mine-clearing rocket systemCarpet is Rafael's fuel-air mine-clearing rocket system, built to open lanes through mines and improvised explosive hazards by firing a rapid rocket salvo. During the Israel-Hamas War, the IDF used Carpet-mounted Puma engineer vehicles in Gaza for route clearance and breaching work.Sources
UN Anti-Personnel Mine Ban ConventionPublisher: United Nations | Note: Supports the general mine definition and the fact that mines may be placed under, on, or near the ground or other surface area. | Accessed: 2026-06-20RUSI Tactical Lessons from IDF Operations in Gaza, 2023Publisher: Royal United Services Institute | Note: Israel-Hamas War: surface-laid mines used by Hamas along roads in Gaza were often easy to detect and remove. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Mine Action Review Palestine 2025Publisher: Mine Action Review | Note: Israel-Hamas War: mines used by Hamas in Gaza, including reported surface-laid mine use and a May 2025 landmine attack in Gaza City. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Wikimedia Anti-personnel Mine PhotoPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing page for a CC BY-SA 4.0 anti-personnel mine photo in Cambodia. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Wikimedia M18 Claymore PhotoPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing page for a public-domain U.S. Army M18 Claymore photo. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Wikimedia TM-38 Landmine IllustrationPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing page for a public-domain U.S. Government TM-38 landmine illustration. | Accessed: 2026-06-20