Hamas arsenal 'could last weeks'
2009-01-06 11:14
Jerusalem - Hamas, facing a massive Israeli air and ground assault on its Gaza Strip stronghold, has the capacity to fire rockets and mortars at Israel for weeks, the Maariv daily quoted an intelligence report as saying on Tuesday.
"Hamas has enough rockets and mortar shells to continue firing deep into Israeli territory for weeks," said the report presented to Parliament's foreign affairs and defence committee by General Yossi Beidatz, head of the research department for military intelligence, according to the daily.
Beidatz said that Hamas "has not raised the white flag in the past and wants to remain in power".
Israel unleashed its massive "Operation Cast Lead" against Hamas on December 27 in response to continuing rocket fire from Gaza and has vowed to continue the deadly offensive until militant groups in the enclave are no longer able to fire into the Jewish state.