Reacting to the recent escalation in rocket and mortar fire from the Gaza Strip, which included several salvos over the weekend, the Israeli Defense Forces have ordered all Israelis in rocket range to remain within 15 seconds of bomb shelters. The rocket fire comes from a mix of Al Qaeda-linked Salafist groups, Hamas, and other Palestinian terror organizations, with the latter two formally coordinating their attacks and Hamas explicitly claiming responsibility. At least 637 rockets and mortars have been fired so far in 2012, but a TIP analysis found that the recent escalation bears hallmarks suggesting Hamas might be preparing to provoke a full-scale war. Read that analysis here.

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