On Aug. 4, Netanyahu said Hamas was also responsible for a rocket strike
launched from Sinai in April 2010, Middle East Newsline reported. The prime minister, speaking on national
television, said Hamas was launching anonymous attacks from Sinai to avoid
massive Israeli retaliation.
"We investigated the two incidents," Netanyahu said. "It became clear
beyond a doubt that Hamas' military wing in Gaza had executed both attacks
in disguise."
Egypt has acknowledged that Sinai was being used by Hamas and other
Palestinian forces for rocket attacks against Israel. Egyptian security
sources said a massive operation has been launched to locate rocket squads
in the southern Sinai. A security source said seven rockets were fired
toward Israel and one landed near the Egyptian resort of Taba.
Officials said Egypt, Israel and Jordan were cooperating in the
investigation of the Aug. 2 rocket attack. They said Hamas was believed to
be working with Bedouin smugglers and Islamic insurgency cells in Sinai to
transport Grads from the Gaza Strip to the southern Egyptian border with
Israel about 200 kilometers away.
"I want to clarify that the use of a third country's soil, one that
seeks peace, in order to launch rockets at Israel, will not help Hamas
escape responsibility," Netanyahu said. "Israel views the attacks against
its citizens with extreme gravity, as well as the attempt to destabilize
Israel's relations with Egypt and Jordan."
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