Hamas' Rockets

We heard recently about Hamas rockets being launched against the Israeli settlements. Many westerners do not know the difference between those rockets and their effect and comparing them to a shell launched from an airplane (I hope none would have to learn the way i learned by living throughout the Lebanese war including the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982)

However, just to give my readers an idea of what we are talking about when we hear about Hamas rockets, i opted to write this article.

Most of the Hamas rockets targeting Israel are undeveloped, put together in metal shops. Some more "developed" rockets parts to provide longer range are being smuggled in.Hamas' Qassam (a homemade rocket) is grossly imprecise and carries a small warhead of about 20 pounds of explosives. The imported missiles, Katyushas, have a warhead of up to 40 pounds (lesser than the weight of Israel's Mirkava Tank cannon shell).

Hamas has taken up rockets as its main weapon. While rockets cannot match the firepower of Israel's military, they are highly effective in spreading fear among residents of Israel's southern cities. Since Israel launched its Gaza offensive, Hamas intensified its rockets launching, killing six Israelis, including a soldier.

Israeli war officials estimate that Hamas had 3,000 rockets before the fighting began Saturday and that around 1,200 of those have been either fired or destroyed by Israeli air strikes. Military experts know that rockets are not designed to defeat the enemy especially the Qassams that are visibly wobbling and shaking as they ascend when launched.