Iran: Hamas already rebuilding Iran-backed rocket arsenal

“The Palestinian resistance has resumed production of missiles with the end of the recent Israeli aggression,” Iranian media stated.

SETH J. FRANTZMAN

MAY 31, 2021 11:31
Palestinian Hamas supporters attend an anti-Israel rally as rockets are displayed on a truck by Hamas militants in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip May 28, 2021 (photo credit: REUTERS/IBRAHEEM ABU MUSTAFA)

Hamas in the Gaza Strip is already rebuilding its massive rocket arsenal to target Israel in the next war.

That is the assessment of Iranian media according to information transmitted from the Hamas political bureau to Fars. News. It “announced that the Palestinian resistance has resumed production of missiles with the end of the recent Israeli aggression.”

It told its Iranian backers that “our factories and workshops have resumed production of thousands of missiles to stop the [attacks] of Netanyahu in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv,” Fathi Hamad, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, said in a message Sunday evening.

Hamas has vowed to protect Palestinians in Jerusalem. It launched a war on Israel on May 10, targeting Jerusalem. It used more than 4,000 rockets to attack Israel in 11 days. It targeted air bases and major cities. Iran advised it on its strategy and celebrated its efforts. Hamas thanks Iran for support. Iran has used this to fuel Hezbollah and other proxies against Israel.

“The option of war against Israel and [due to] discriminatory measures against the Palestinians is still valid, but the Palestinians are not looking for a war because it costs money, but it will continue forever, Hamas leader in Gaza,  Yahya Sinwar, said on Monday,” according to Fars News. “Israel is occupying our lands, displacing our people and continuing to kill,” said Sinwar, who has been touring Gaza in recent days. Hamas has had parades showing off its weapons as well.

Hamas has some 15,000 rockets and Palestinian Islamic Jihad has rockets as well. These have ranges up to 250km Hamas says. Hamas rocket technology is based on Iranian technology and has included rockets smuggled from Iran in the past.

Content retrieved from: https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/gaza-news/iran-hamas-already-rebuilding-iran-backed-rocket-arsenal-669680.