The ISA reported the firing of more than 1,200 missiles and rockets from the
Gaza Strip toward Israel in 2007. About one-third of the projectiles fell
short of Israel and landed in the Gaza Strip, Middle East Newsline reported.
[On Thursday, Palestinian gunners fired a Kassam-class missile that
landed in a field in the northern part of the Israeli city of Ashkelon.
Officials said this marked the longest flight of a Palestinian missile fired
from the Gaza Strip.]
The report envisioned an increasing use of missiles and rockets by
Palestinian insurgency groups, which smuggles weapons from the
neighboring Sinai Peninsula. ISA has determined that Hamas, trained by Iran,
was able to operate as a military in the Gaza Strip.
In 2007, Hamas smuggled 80 tons of explosives from Egypt's Sinai. ISA
asserted that Hamas and its allies were engaged in a military buildup.
On Dec. 29, the military reported the capture of a Palestinian truck
with 6.5 tons of potassium nitrate that traveled from the West Bank to the
Gaza
Strip. Potassium nitrate, disguised as a staple donated by the European
Union, was deemed a leading element in the production of missiles and
explosives.
"The terror organizations disguised the potassium nitrate in sugar bags
that were marked as being part of the humanitarian aid provided by the
European Union," the military said. "This is another example of how the
terror organizations exploit the humanitarian aid that is delivered to the
Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip with Israel's approval."
Israel's military has been prepared for Palestinian deployment of
anti-aircraft systems in the Gaza Strip. The military believes Hamas and
other insurgents were beginning to use SA-7 surface-to-air missiles
against Israeli helicopters.
Officials said the Israel Air Force was equipping all helicopters that
fly over the Gaza Strip with missile warning and countermeasures systems. On
Dec. 27, an Israeli combat helicopter was almost struck by what appeared to
be a missile fired from the Gaza Strip. The air force has been
investigating.
In 2007, Palestinian cells in the West Bank failed in efforts to conduct
a suicide strike in Israel, ISA said in a report. The agency reported the
arrest of 117 potential Palestinian suicide bombers from January through
October 2007.
ISA was said to have penetrated Hamas's military wing and provided
information on senior commanders. Hamas has reported the arrest of 10
members accused of working with Israel.
