Hamas is manufacturing and testing rockets capable of striking Israel’s densely packed population centers. The missiles include a Gaza-built version of the advanced Iranian Fajr-5. Israel substantially degraded the Gaza-based terror group’s storehouses of advanced missiles during November’s Operation Pillar of Defense, which Jerusalem launched to stem months of increased rocket fire. While in the past Hamas has been supplied and resupplied by Tehran, it has in recent months sought to replenish its supply indigenously:
Hamas is testing medium to long range missiles that are designed to reach Tel Aviv, Ynet has learned. The group manufactures its own 8-inch M75 rockets and stores them in special caches in the Gaza Strip. IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz said Monday that while there is calm in Gaza, Hamas continues to enhance its capabilities “less through tunnels and more through self-production.”
Those weapons which are being imported are, according to senior IDF officer who spoke last month, smaller in quantity but higher in quality. The result may wall be another conflict – like Israel’s – done with the aim of degrading Hamas’s arsenal.
The revelations come amid Hamas claims that it has expanded its ties with European countries. According to the group, backchannels have opened up which circumvent the E.U.’s official policy against contacts with Hamas. The Hamas officials did not name names, but they did name countries:
Britain was among the EU countries mentioned by the four Gaza officials as having recent contact with Hamas. Others included Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, France, Italy and Spain. The UK, Netherlands and Sweden denied official government-level contact; spokesmen for the other countries did not respond to requests for comment. Norway and Switzerland, neither of which are EU members, are open about their links with Hamas representatives.
Israeli officials expressed skepticism regarding the reports. It would be surprising if European countries chose now – with Hamas reeling from regional developments and shedding both Sunni and Shiite allies – to throw Hamas a lifeline.
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