Hamas has escalated its attacks against Israeli civilians in recent weeks, firing hundreds of rockets from Gaza, including longer-range and more destructive Iranian-supplied Katyusha-style rockets that struck Ashkelon for the first time. These attacks illustrate Hamas’ increased military capabilities and its efforts to transform itself into a terrorist army like Hizballah in southern Lebanon. Israel, which has demonstrated tremendous restraint in the face of years of attacks, is being forced to take increased steps to defend its citizens from such wanton violence.

Hamas is using longer-range and more destructive weaponry as part of its escalation in rocket attacks against Israeli civilians.

• For the first time, Hamas hit Ashkelon, a city of 120,000 people encompassing an area between 6 and 10 miles north of Gaza, with more than two dozen longer-range rockets capable of carrying more explosives than the crude Qassam rockets.
  
  
• Palestinian terrorists have fired more than 1,000 rockets and mortars into Israel this year, injuring dozens and killing a 47-year-old father of four in Sderot on Feb. 27.
  
  
• Children are increasingly falling victim to Hamas’ indiscriminate attacks. An eight-year-old boy recently lost his leg after a rocket struck his home in Sderot, while two Israeli girls playing outside their home were injured by a rocket attack earlier this month.
  
  
• Since Israel withdrew from Gaza in the summer of 2005, Hamas and other Palestinian terrorists have fired some 6,000 rockets and mortars into Israel.

Hamas’ use of longer-range rockets poses a grave danger to major Israeli population centers and key strategic facilities.

• Hamas’ use of longer-range rockets, likely supplied by Iran, places more than 250,000 Israelis living in southern cities, such as Ashkelon, within striking range. For the first time, Israel has activated its rocket warning system in Ashkelon due to the increased threat.
  
  
• Dozens of strategic facilities in Israel are threatened by the longer-range Katyusha-style rockets. Hamas is now capable of hitting the Ashkelon desalination plant, which provides up to 15 percent of the country’s water supply.
  
  
• Hamas also can hit the Rutenberg power plant in southern Ashkelon, which has repeatedly come under attack. The plant supplies not only a quarter of Israel’s electricity, but more than half of Gaza’s power supply.

Hamas continues to increase its rocket and other weapons capabilities by smuggling technology into Gaza from Egypt.

• Hamas has doubled the range of its rocket capabilities. The crude Qassam rockets have a range of four to five miles, while the longer-range weapons can reach targets more than 10 miles away.
  
  
• Hamas terrorists are now using underground Qassam launch silos to make finding and destroying the launchers more difficult.  The launchers, similar to those used by Hizballah, can also be operated by remote control.
  
  
• With assistance from Iran, according to Israeli security officials, Hamas has developed special rockets that can be broken down into small parts to make it easier to smuggle into Gaza. The rockets can easily be reassembled to launch attacks against Israel.
  
  
• Hamas is using advanced propellants—smuggled into Gaza during the recent destruction of the border wall with Egypt—allowing rockets to be stockpiled for longer durations and terrorists to fire large number of rockets in a single barrage.
  
  
• In addition to increasing its rocket capabilities, Hamas has smuggled into Gaza from Egypt shoulder-fired RPG anti-tank missiles, assault rifles, high-quality explosives and anti-aircraft missiles, according to Israeli security officials.

Israel seeks to limit civilian casualties while defending its citizens, and facilitates the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza residents.

• Israel’s purpose in responding to these attacks is not to punish the population of Gaza, but to protect its citizens and prevent the further launching of attacks.
  
  
• Israel responds to Hamas' indiscriminate rocket attacks in a measured manner, seeking to limit civilian casualties by carrying out targeted operations against Hamas command centers, Palestinian rocket-launching devices and vehicles carrying Qassam rockets and armed terrorists.
  
  
• Israel continues to facilitate humanitarian efforts to the Palestinians despite Hamas’ repeated attacks on the very crossings used to transport the goods into Gaza. Hamas has sought to use these border crossings to smuggle weapons and to try to infiltrate into Israel to carry out attacks.
  
  
• Since the beginning of the year, 84 shipments of medicines and other supplies have been given priority to enter Gaza. Israel has not refused entry of any medicines or medical equipment, which is often taken by Hamas for its own medical facilities.
  
  
• Israel continues to allow patients to leave Gaza for medical treatment in Israel, with a total of 12,760 people having entered Israel since June 16, 2007. Would-be suicide bombers have used fake medical information in attempts to enter Israel and carry out attacks.