Qassam rocket lands north of Gaza

GAZA - Qassam terror continues: A Qassam rocket landed early Sunday in an open field located north of the Gaza Strip no injuries or damage were reported. The Qassam was discovered in an open area belonging to an Israeli town located several miles north of Gaza, indicating an improvement in the launching capabilities of the Palestinians. Two weeks ago Palestinians fired a Qassam rocket at the southern town of Sderot, but no injuries or damage were reported in that incident as well. The rocket landed in an open space in a neighborhood in the western part of the city. IDF officials said the rocket was launched from the Beit Hanun area in the northern Gaza Strip. The last time terrorists attempted to fire a Qassam rocket at Sderot was in late January, but the rocket landed in an open field south of the city and did not cause any damage. IDF officials had said they believe The Popular Resistance Committees was behind the Qassam attack, as it refused to commit to the intra-Palestinian "calm" reached between Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian factions in Cairo recently. This is a signal to Abbas that he must act against those who oppose him, they said at the time. 'Balance of terror' However, the military wing of the Fatah party, the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades later claimed responsibility. IDF sources said there are indications Palestinian terrorists in Gaza are attempting to advance their Qassam-launching capabilities the IDF is fearful these capabilities may be transferred to the West Bank as well. Two-and-a-half months ago an IDF unit uncovered a weapons-manufacturing lab near the West Bank town of Jenin contained parts used to build Qassam rockets. A day earlier it was released for publication that in late December, the Shin Bet and IDF apprehended an Islamic Jihad terrorist who was allegedly planning a series of deadly attacks in Israel, including a Qassam rocket attack on the town of Afula. According to the Shin Bet, 19-year old Jibril Zbeide confessed to interrogators to being a member of the cell that was planning an attack on Afula in a bid to create a “balance of terror" similar to that which prevails in the Gaza Strip.

Qassam rocket lands north of Gaza

No injuries, damage reported; IDF officials say Palestinian terrorists in Gaza improving Qassam-launching capabilities; fear advanced methods may be transferred to West Bank