Hamas fires more than 30 rockets in Gaza
Hamas on Friday carried out a series of rocket firing tests in Gaza, Army Radio reported.
Israeli officials quoted by the station estimated that the tests included the firing of more than 30 short-range rockets. The rockets were directed towards areas that are not controlled by Israel, according to Army Radio.
Hamas conducts ongoing missile tests meant to advance its domestic rocket arsenal ahead of its next terror war against Israel. This has been ongoing since the beginning of the ceasefire that ended Operation Protection Edge in the summer of 2014.
Hamas is trying to advance its domestic rocket production capabilities, largely due to the Israeli naval blockade preventing the influx of missiles from foreign sources – most notably Iran – and an Egyptian crackdown on smuggling tunnels from Sinai that has seen thousands of Gazans expelled in the creation of a “buffer zone.”
In a symbolic twist, some of these rocket tests have taken place in the ruins of Gush Katif, the group of Jewish communities that were forcibly evacuated by the government in the controversial 2005 Disengagement Plan.
Hamas has also fired rockets on numerous occasions at Israel in breach of the ceasefire.
