It appears that all the experts agree, that today, Hamas based in Gaza is stronger than ever and it has significantly expanded its arsenal to include rockets that can threaten the capital of the Negev.

One of the more outspoken voices heard on Sunday against the government’s restraint was Minister Shaul Mofaz, who was the defense minister overseeing the expulsion of Gaza’s Jewish communities. In 2005, along with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, he/they assured us that the ‘doomsday prophecies’ of the opponents of the Disengagement Plan were wrong, and Gaza would not become a haven for Hamas-based terror. Today, we all know who is correct and residents of many southern communities are paying the price along with those who were removed from their homes.

About six months ago, the opponents of Defense Minister Ehud Barak’s ceasefire plan with Hamas warned the terror organization is weak and wishes to sign on the ceasefire to permit itself time to rebuilt and expand its capabilities. Barak was extremely confident, informing the country that this would not be the case. He also assured us that his ceasefire will facilitate efforts to obtain the release of Gilad Shalit. Today the southern portion of the country is living in a war zone and with Hamas’ expanded rocket-firing capabilities, close to 800,000 Israelis are living under the threat of attack from mortar shells, Kassam rockets and an array of Katyusha rockets, some imported from Iran.

There are no differences of opinion among the various intelligence communities, that Hamas has reached an unprecedented level of warfare capabilities thanks to Minister Barak’s six-month hiatus of IDF activities against Hamas, along with placing the Rafiach border in Egyptian hands, permitting terrorists a gateway to Sinai, which in turn resulted in a gateway to Hizbullah, Syria and Iran. There is now a complex tunnel system as well as ongoing smuggling via the Rafiach border, permitting the infusion of an array of advances weaponry.

On Sunday, defense and security officials confirmed reports that Russian-built S-300 advanced anti-aircraft missile systems are already being delivered to Iran, systems that will present new challenges to the Israel air force while significantly shifting current regional balance of power realities.

According to the updated intelligence reports, rockets fired from Gaza can now reach many areas that to date have been out of the veil of threat. This includes Rahat, Ofakim, Netivot, Kiryat Gat, Kiryat Malachi, Ashdod, Yavne, Gadera and the Beersheva corridor.

Also within range of the rocket fire are two power stations, two academic institutions, two hospitals, a major seaport, an air force base, and high and low-tech industrial parks.

A Kassam rocket has a target distance of about 12 kilometers (7 miles), a Grad Katyusha 20km (12 miles), a 122m Grad 30km (18 miles) and a Grad advanced 122m 40km (24 miles).

This in addition to the relatively new threat from Gaza, Hamas’ shoulder held anti-aircraft weaponry, which has already compelled air force pilots to move to a higher altitude over Gaza.

On Sunday night, IDF combat helicopter gunships were targeted by heavy machinegun fire from northern Gaza. Baruch Hashem, the aircraft were not hit and all pilots returned safely to their base. Pilots returned fire and PA sources report a number of terrorists were killed.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)