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Hamas Smuggles Katyushas Into Gaza, Fires Them At Israeli Schools And Hospitals (Plus: Eight Mortars Fired At Israeli Civilians, One Scores Direct Hit)

The most recent intel reports put Hamas in full control of Gaza - up to, including, and especially arms smuggling. And the arms they're smuggling are deadlier and more advanced than ever before:

Palestinian militants fired a Katyusha rocket into Israel from Gaza on Sunday, a rare instance of the use of a more sophisticated missile than the usual crude, Gaza-made Qassams. The Katyusha, which landed in open ground in Netivot, almost seven miles east of Gaza, did little damage. But the Katyusha, a factory-manufactured missile with a longer range, better accuracy and a warhead weighing about 11 pounds, must be smuggled into Gaza. The Israeli Army said that four Katyushas have been fired from Gaza before but that they are rare. The Popular Resistance Committees, a shadowy group that often claims responsibility for attacks, apparently to conceal the responsibility of other factions, said it fired the rocket along with eight mortars that were also fired Sunday. The militant group Islamic Jihad is thought to have up to a dozen Katyushas, but has only used a few, and not very effectively.

So all those rumors about how Egypt is in explicit violation of agreements because it's allowing massive arms smuggling - true. And the part about how Hamas is reasonable or moderating - less true. After the jump, a broader report on recent missile and mortar attacks:

In addition to the attack on Netivot, eight mortar shells fell in Kibbutz Keren Shalom, one landing a direct hit on a house, causing extensive damage. Three locally produced Kassam rockets were also fired from the northern Gaza Strip, landing in the area of the Sdot Negev Regional Council... This week, US Secretary of State Rice is visiting the region in order to advance the international meeting planned to take place in November in Annapolis to promote Israeli-Palestinian reconciliation. Quartet envoy Tony Blair is also in the area, in order to promote cooperation between the sides.

Yeah, no way that can turn out badly.

References:
* IDF: Hamas now in full control of Gaza arms smuggling [Ha'aretz]
* Gaza Rocket Is Said to Have Longer Range [NYT]
* Egypt Uncovers A Single Smuggling Tunnel, Basically Calls It A Day (Plus: Egypt In Explicit Violation Of Security Agreements?) [MR]

Previously:
* vHamas Terrorist: "We Are A Nation That Drinks Blood... There Is No Blood Better Than The Blood Of Jews" [Video]
* UN Ignores Palestinian Attacks Explicitly Designed To Target Israeli Schoolchildren
* UN And "Gaza Businessmen" Agree: It's Israel's Fault That Hamas Has Intentionally Created A Humanitarian Disaster In the Gaza Strip By Blocking Food and Medical Shipments

Cross-posted to:
* Israpundit

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