GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing, has intensified its test-firing of missiles in recent months in the framework of developing its military capabilities. However, the timing of these tests conveys military and political messages, especially to Israel.
Most recently on July 3, al-Qassam Brigades launched 10 missiles of different ranges from the northern and southern Gaza Strip to the sea, a few hours before the Israeli Cabinet convened in the Gaza envelope in the presence of senior army commanders and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the stalled truce with Hamas.