Less than four months after the Aug. 26 conclusion of Operation Protective Edge in the Gaza Strip, Hamas’ military wing is preparing for its next campaign against Israel, showing marked signs of bouncing back. On three consecutive days, Dec. 11-13, Hamas fired rockets into the Mediterranean Sea in a series of tests it has been conducting this month. Residents of the Gaza Strip as well as Israelis living along the Gaza border reported hearing rockets whizzing and seeing plumes of smoke over the sea. All told, Hamas conducted dozens of launches in broad daylight, knowing full well that Israel would be aware of them, monitoring the situation vigilantly.
Not trying to hide or play down the tests, senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk confirmed that his organization was testing Qassam rockets. He argued that the tests did not violate the cease-fire agreement between Gaza and Israel because the understandings did not stipulate that Hamas was barred from conducting them.
