Barrages prove Hamas able to stockpile missiles

[oberliner]

The barrage of rockets fired at Israel from Gaza this week confirms intelligence assessments that Hamas has upgraded its rocket capabilities over the past few months. The fact it could fire 130 rockets in less than three days proves it has overcome the technical hurdles involved in stockpiling them.

Until a few months ago, Hamas was unable to store Qassam rockets for more than a few weeks, because their launch capability would degrade. Now that this barrier has evidently been overcome, the organization can manufacture and store thousands of rockets, which it can unleash in any future clash with Israel.

Hamas is also thought to have significant numbers of longer-range rockets capable of hitting Ashkelon. It has thus far used such rockets very sparingly, but if its conflict with Israel escalates, that might change.

The organization has also upgraded its launching capabilities: Some of the rockets that hit Israel this week were fired by remote control from buried launchers, which makes it hard for Israeli forces to attack the launch crews. Hezbollah used this tactic extensively during the Second Lebanon War.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/945857.html

[Fredda Weinberg]

1. And this makes them what, exactly? n/t

[oberliner]

2. What do you mean?

Can you answer your question? I'm not sure what you are suggesting.

[Fredda Weinberg]

3. Well, you posted the article. What were you suggesting? n/t

[oberliner]

4. The capabilities of Hamas to strike Israel are increasing

This seems like a very unpleasant development to say the least.

[Fredda Weinberg]

5. Hamas is just the latest in a long line of threats for Israelis. It is unpleasant for the

Gazans, who cannot get along w/normal lives.

[oberliner]

6. Do you think Hamas enjoys popular support in Gaza?

The last poll I saw showed them lagging, but that was some time ago.