Hamas’ new short range, heavy explosive payload suggests these new rockets are specifically intended to bring maximum carnage & devastation to Israel’s Jewish border communities.

By i24NEWS

Hamas has recently developed dozens of high-powered short-range rockets capable of carrying heavy explosive loads, intended to be used against Israeli communities in the vicinity of the Gaza border in a future conflict with Israel.

Hamas photo of rocket fired from family home makes it a target for the IAF – IDF Facebook page

The rockets, first reported by Israel’s Army Radio on Tuesday, weigh up to hundreds of kilograms each and have a relatively short range of up to ten kilometers, pointing to Hamas’ intention to inflict maximum damage on Israeli communities situated close to the border with the Gaza Strip.

The rockets, similar to short-range rockets in Lebanon-based Hezbollah’s arsenal, are according to Army Radio “completely different than any weaponry we know from the direction of the Strip, as it concerns the weight of the explosive carried in the head of the rocket.”

The report asserted that it was the first time Hamas has developed such a weapon.

Since its 2014 war with Israel, dubbed “Operation Protective Edge,” Hamas has been investing its resources and conducting frequent experiments aimed at improving their rocket arsenal, which the IDF says has been replenished to pre-2014 levels.

Last month, a Hamas rocket engineer was killed while manufacturing a missile.

The report comes amid heightened tensions between Israel and Hamas, following the assassination of Mazen Fuqaha, a senior figure of the Islamist group’s military wing in Gaza on Friday.

Though the killers remain unknown, Hamas was quick to blame Israel for Fuqaha’s death. Israel has not commented on the killing.

Hamas political chief Khaled Mashaal on Monday warned of an escalation, saying that the group “accepts the challenge” after Israel “decided to change the rules of the game” by allegedly masterminding the killing.

Hamas millionairs not in Gaza during conflict – Twitter

Tensions were already boiling prior to Fuqaha’s killing, as a spate of rogue rocket fire from Gaza into Israeli territory prompted several instances of retaliatory air and artillery strikes against Hamas targets in the Palestinian enclave.

Israel withdrew all its troops and civilians from the Gaza Strip in 2005 and two years later the Hamas terrorist organization took power after elections and a bloody coup.

The group seeks the destruction of the Jewish State and has fought three major rounds of conflict against it since taking power.

Thousands of rockets have been fired into Israel from the Strip, targeting small communities near the coastal enclave as well as major cities such as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

(Staff with agencies)

View original i24news publication at:
http://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/diplomacy-defense/141282-170328-hamas-adds-new-high-powered-short-range-rockets-to-arsenal-report