BICOM

Media reports in Israel say Hamas is busily digging tunnels and concealing rocket launchers in the Gaza Strip in preparation for a significant conflict with Israel.

There has been a sharp increase in the number of rockets fired from Gaza onto southern Israel and attacks on IDF border patrols over the past few weeks, piercing the relative quiet after Operation Pillar of Defence in November 2012. Hamas, which has administered Gaza since violently overthrowing Fatah in 2007, has not taken responsibility for these attacks. Reports earlier this week indicated that Hamas had even deployed hundreds of officers to prevent rocket fire by other terror groups, for fear of a wider confrontation developing with Israel.

However, Ynet this morning reports that Hamas is at the same time busily preparing for a significant conflict with Israel. Apparently, Hamas is concealing long-range rocket launchers in residential buildings in Gaza, complicating any Israeli response to their use. At the same time, advanced underground tunnels are reportedly being built at the cost of around £600,000 each, designed to shelter Hamas leaders and facilitate the movement of operatives. A mile-long tunnel of this type was uncovered by Israeli forces in October, traversing underneath the Gaza border and eventually reaching Kibbutz Ein Hashlosha.

A similar report in the Times of Israel says that in addition to these activities, Hamas has placed reconnaissance cameras on mosque minarets and water towers and maintains a large stock of M-75 missiles, which have the capability of reaching Tel Aviv and beyond.

Earlier this week, Israel responded to the increased Gaza rocket fire by launching two targeted air strikes against individual terror operatives responsible for some of the rocket attacks. Writing in Yediot Ahronot, military affairs commentator Alex Fishman said the targeted air strikes were a measured response, which sent the message that Israel “has no intention of going all out” in an offensive in Gaza.