Hamas Preparing to Pounce

Hamas Rally In Gaza

From Arutz Sheva:

(IsraelNN.com) IDF sources have warned Western Negev municipal leaders that Hamas is preparing to renew its rocket attacks - and that it has the wherewithal to do so with fury.

The current ceasefire has held, more or less, for three weeks, but it is not expected to last for a long time. Hamas and other Gaza terrorists have fired an average of two shells or rockets at Israel every three days.

Hamas overthrew Fatah control of Gaza in June of last year, and was able to amass at least 230 tons of explosives, 30,000 rifles, over six million rounds of ammunition, and scores of anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles by the time they had been in power just six months. Many military experts have warned that Hamas is using the ceasefire period to amass a tremendous arsenal of weapons and explosives, for use against Israel when the time is ripe.

Read more ....

More News on Gaza/Hamas/Israel

Hamas arrests first rocket squads since truce -- Reuters
Hamas leader urges Israel to abide by Gaza truce commitments -- China View
Hamas pledges to hold to truce with Israel, stop violators -- International Herald Tribune
Qassams hit Negev after IDF kills Gazan -- Haaretz

My Comment: There is no talks. No discussions. No forward progress. Everyone is just arming themselves for the next fight. Some truce/peace agrement.

Hamas And Its Rockets

From Strategy Page:

Israel knows that Hamas has been stockpiling an arsenal of rockets in Gaza, and may be bringing in some with a range of up to 40 kilometers. Israeli intelligence officials believe Hamas currently has, in Gaza, several hundred factory made BM-21 rockets, each with a range of 20 kilometers. They also have some shorter range (six kilometers) B-12 rockets. These are not smuggled in much, because the locally made Kassam II has about the same range. However, the B-12 is more reliable (more reliable trajectory and fuze, so more are likely to land where aimed and explode.)

Read more ....

My Comment: Hamas is clearly positioning themselves for the next fight against Israel. If Hamas starts to smuggle shape charges for their IEDs, an escalation in this conflict will occur.