The period of calm Israel negotiated with Hamas appears to be backfiring.
Hamas has used the calm to fortify positions and increase its capabilities. Shin Bet Director Yuval Diskin stated today that “Hamas has been taking advantage of the truce in order to plant mines in wide areas in the Gaza Strip,” and has acquired “missiles which can reach Kiryat Gat, and maybe even Ashdod.”
Diskin further noted that the calm has backfired because: Hamas has not abandoned its long-term plans of destroying Israel; it has not halted smuggling efforts; and is not cooperating with Israel on the return of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
Hamas gloats that the calm is a triumph. The JPC noted the potential for these problems in mid-June with Palestinian Rocket Report #2.
