BICOM

An attempt to fire rockets from Gaza into Israel was thwarted by an Israeli airstrike on Friday morning, following a notable increase in tensions between Israel and the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip in the last few days. On Tuesday, the Israel Air Force carried out two targeted strikes on Gaza, killing three members of Palestinian terror organizations who were described by the IDF as actively planning attacks on Israelis. Since then, five rockets have been fired at IsraelfromGaza. In the wake of the increased tension, there are reports that an extensive IDF operation into Gaza may be getting closer. Gaza Division Southern Brigade Commander, Colonel Tal Harmoni, speaking to the Israel Hayomnewspaper this week, said that while Operation Cast Lead three years ago achieved its aims, the situation had now changed.  Harmoni stressed that a failure by the Hamas authorities to prevent rocket fire and incursions from Gaza and into Israel from Sinai would result in a renewed Israeli campaign into Gaza. IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz also warned this week that sooner or later the IDF would have to conduct another significant operation against armed groups in the Gaza Strip.  Israel believes Hamas is currently digging tunnels between Israel and Gaza with the intention of carrying out an abduction of an Israeli soldier. Israeli concerns regarding Gaza are connected to the significant decline in the policing of the Sinai since the fall of President Mubarak in Egypt. Arms smuggling into Gaza has increased both in terms of quantity and quality.  A recent report in the Jerusalem Post claimd that Hamas has expanded its military infrastructure into Sinai itself, though Egypt has denied this.