More Kassams Being Fired--A Symbol Of Hamas's Faith In Abbas?

by Daled Amos

According to the IDF website, today marked the 10th Kassam launch from the Gaza Strip in six days and there has been a Steep Increase in Rocket Attacks in the Last 24 Hours

Since early Sunday morning (Sept. 12), Israel has had five rockets launched into its southern towns and one RPG attempt, making six rocket incidents altogether in two days.


On Sunday (Sept. 12), a rocket launched into Israel from the Gaza Strip hit open territory in the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council. The rocket hit a relatively quiet area, and there were no injuries or damages caused. This rocket was the fifth launched into Israel in five days.

Later in the day, an attempt to fire an RPG at IDF forces was thwarted and two additional rockets were launched, bringing the tally up to eight. The soldiers opened fire toward the suspects in response. Earlier that day IDF soldiers identified a number of suspects approaching the security fence in the same area.

On Monday morning (Sept. 13), the fifth and sixth launch occurred on two separate incidents of rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, landing in open territory near Sderot, bringing the count to ten launches in past six days.

The increase in rocket attacks from Gaza is explained as being part of the Hamas reaction to the current batch of Mideast peace talks in an effort to stir up trouble and derail them. While the talks are widely perceived to be a lost cause, Hamas seems to be taking no chances.

The increase in the number of rockets Hamas is firing against civilian targets is being weighed against the quality of the weapons being used:

The quality of weapons being smuggled into Gaza has declined significantly since January’s assassination of Hamas commander Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai, Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) chief Yuval Diskin told the cabinet on Sunday.

Mabhouh, who was reportedly responsible for smuggling Iranian arms into the Gaza Strip, was killed in a Dubai hotel room in January.

Although Israel was widely blamed for the assassination, Jerusalem never claimed responsibility.

Of course, this is news to those who still claim that Hamas is just firing homemade rockets that pose no threat at all.

Daled Amos

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