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Monday, February 16, 2009

Rocket-making resumes in Gaza, as do attacks
by the Israelis

TEL AVIV — Israel's military said the Hamas regime renewed missile and rocket production in the Gaza Strip.   

Israeli military sources said the Hamas regime was believed to have reorganized and resumed weapons and missile production in the Gaza Strip within two weeks of the end of the war with Israel on Jan. 18.

The sources said the first missile and rocket production lines were established in Gaza City and the neighboring refugee camp of Jebalya.

"The process is not very difficult," a military source said. "You need a supply of steel, TNT and running electricity, and you're in business."

Also In This Edition

On Feb. 13, the Israel Air Force renewed air attacks on Hamas weapons facilities, Middle East Newsline reported. Israeli aircraft struck and damaged two suspected weapons and rocket workshops in Jebalya.

The sources said Hamas lost about 2,000 missiles and rockets during the 22-day war with Israel. They said the Islamic regime and its Palestinian militia allies rebuilt weapons factories immediately after the war and resumed smuggling components from the neighboring Sinai Peninsula for the manufacture of Kassam-class short-range missiles.

Hamas has also renewed BM-21 Grad rocket fire against Israel. On Feb. 13, Palestinian gunners fired a Grad that landed near the Israeli city of Yavne. Nobody was injured.

Officials said the Hamas regime has been smuggling Grads and other missiles and rockets from Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. They said Egypt has closed some tunnels but failed to capture their operators. On Feb. 16, at least two Kassam missiles landed in Israel's western Negev desert.

"Egyptian action is too slow, and the government must set an appropriate policy for the Israel Defense Forces," Israeli Public Security Minister Avi Dichter told the Cabinet on Feb. 15.



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