Hamas improves rocket range capabilities after successful test launch

Egyptian media report that Hamas' military wing test fired a rocket into
Sinai two weeks ago • Rocket, modeled after dismantled missiles smuggled
into Gaza from Libya, can reportedly reach further distances than any other
missile in Hamas' rocket arsenal.

Daniel Siryoti and Israel Hayom Staff
http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=5066

Egyptian media outlets reported Sunday that Hamas' military wing test-fired
a rocket into the Sinai Peninsula from the neighboring Gaza Strip two weeks
ago. The rocket, according to the reports, was fired toward central Sinai
from the Rafiah area in south Gaza, and was capable of reaching further
distances than any other missile in Hamas' rocket arsenal.

Hamas sources in Gaza called the test launch a success after the rocket
landed dozens of kilometers from the Gaza border. The new-model rocket,
according to the reports, was developed in Gaza based on knowledge from
dismantled long-range missiles smuggled into Gaza from Libya.

One month ago, two Grad rockets believed to have been fired from Sinai into
southern Israel were discovered near Ovda and Mitzpe Ramon, after
penetrating deeper into Israel than ever before.

The rockets hit unpopulated areas, causing no injuries or damage, but the
targets appeared to indicate that Sinai-based terror organizations, perhaps
operating in conjunction with Hamas, were expanding their range.

Another theory was that Hamas, looking to draw Israeli fire away from Gaza
while still launching rockets, was developing longer range rockets that
could be fired from deep inside Sinai and still hit Israeli towns.

The head of the Defense Ministry's Diplomatic-Security Bureau, Amos Gilad,
however, voiced skepticism at the time over the identity of the culprits.

"There are many extremist elements in Sinai that are interested in
complicating the region, whether al-Qaida or Hamas; some are working for
Iran and Hezbollah," Gilad said.

Meanwhile, Palestinian sources in the West Bank said on Sunday that Israeli
security forces raided the home of Hamas parliamentarian Ahmed Mubarak in
Ramallah late Saturday night, arresting him on suspicion of endangering
Israel's security. Hamas and the Palestinian Authority condemned Israel over
Mubarak's arrest.