Hamas helping militant groups carry out Qassam attacks
By Ze'ev Schiff, Haaretz Correspondent 24 February 20006
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/686833.html

Hamas activists may not be actively launching Qassam rockets at Israel from
the Gaza Strip, but they are providing assistance to militants from other
groups who are carrying out such attacks.

Most of the rocket fire is being carried out by Islamic Jihad activists,
activists from Fatah's Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, and members of local
factions such as the Popular Resistance Committees.

For all intents and purposes, Hamas has been in control of the northern
branch of the PRC over the past few months. Since the Palestinian elections,
the movement has not been involved in the Qassam rocket fire, but has
provided direct assistance to the PRC.

Prior to the elections and despite an agreement on the "period of calm,"
Hamas played an active role in the rocket attacks, with military officials
estimating that the movement was responsible for nearly 20 percent of all
Qassams fired at Israel last year.

Despite recent concerted efforts by the Israel Defense Forces to curtail
rocket fire from the Strip, Qassam attacks have significantly increased
recently. At least 130 Qassam rockets fired from the Gaza Strip fell in
Israeli territory in January - more than double the 64 that landed in Israel
in December 2005.

Senior IDF and political officials have reiterated warnings to the
Palestinians that Israel will be forced to adopt harsh military measures if
the rocket fire continues. Options being considered include the possibility
of cutting off the power supply to the Strip, and using heavier artillery
fire that will be directed not only at open areas.

Officials also have discussed the option of sending armored corps forces
into the northern part of the Strip to push the rocket firers back. There
also has been talk of adopting measures to cause residents of the northern
Strip to flee their homes.

As part of its efforts to combat the rocket attacks, Israel Air Force planes
have dropped warning leaflets over the area - apparently to no avail.
Artillery fire and other IAF operations also have proved ineffective in
dealing with the rocket attacks.

The current Qassam rockets have a range of just over 11 kilometers, but
militants are working to increase this. For some time, Hamas has been trying
to smuggle in Russian Grad rockets, which have a 24-kilometer range. Such
rockets would be able to reach the Ashkelon power station and other
strategic targets within Israel.