TEL AVIV — The Israel Army said more than 80 percent of Kassam-class, short-range missiles
fired by Palestinian gunners from the Gaza Strip have not reached Israel.
Instead, the missiles land in Palestinian communities or fields in the Gaza Strip, causing
injuries and damage.
"They seem to have a problem with the material and components they are
using," an Israeli military source said. "It could be that they are using
aging propellants that are no longer reliable."
Over the last two weeks, the army said, Palestinian gunners fired 40
Kassam missiles toward Israel, Middle East Newsline reported. In all but seven launches, the missiles
landed in the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian Authority officials agree. They said at least 75 percent of
Kassam and mortar attacks have landed in the Gaza Strip. On Sunday, a Kassam
missile slammed into a home in Dir Al Balah in the eastern Gaza Strip. A
police officer who lived in the house was injured.
In mid-2005, the home of a former PA minister was struck by a Kassam
missile. Three of his children were injured in an attack denied by all
Palestinian insurgency groups.
Israeli military sources said Hamas has no longer taken responsibility
for Kassam strikes in an effort to avoid a Palestinian backlash. The sources
said Israeli artillery strikes against fields used by Palestinian gunners
have hampered Kassam launches.
"Kassam squads work very hastily because they know we will attack within
seconds," a military source said. "So, they make mistakes and have fired
from areas out of range of Israeli territory."
Israel has eased restrictions on PA security forces in an attempt to
enhance their capabilities. On Sunday, Israel permitted Egypt to transfer
AK-47 rifle ammunition to the PA security forces in the Gaza Strip. The
ammunition was purchased from Egypt by the United States.
