IDF soldiers from the Givati Brigade uncovered seven Qassam launchers during a military operation which took place in the northern Gaza Strip in the past few days.
Some of the launchers were installed with a timer in order to launch the rockets without human intervention.
During the operation, the troops uncovered another launcher with a Qassam rocket on it directed toward Israel .
"This activity was part of all the operations carried out by the IDF in the Gaza Strip against all types of terrorism. Sometimes the activity is aimed at locating tunnels, in other events it is aimed at detaining terror activists, and this time the goal was to locate Qassam launchers," a source at the Southern Command explained.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday said was deeply concerned at the violence reported in Gaza in the context of the recent Israeli incursion.
In a statement, the secretary-general called on all parties to do their utmost to protect civilians and uphold international law. "In addition, Palestinian rocket fire into Israel, must stop," he said.
Simultaneous to the IDF's activity in the Strip's refugee camp this week, during which 11 gunmen were killed and more than 100 Palestinians were detained for questioning, the IDF launched a secret operation in another area inside the Strip – the Beit Hanoun rocket launching site.
The activity included patrols of the area, including agricultural fields, during which seven ready rocket launchers were uncovered. The launchers, which were installed with timers, revealed one of the methods used by terror cells in attempt to avoid being hit by the IDF after launching the rockets.
The soldiers did not encounter significant resistance by terrorists during the operation. The fact that the launchers were hidden in areas with a lot of bushes testifies to the terrorists' attempts to hide them from the army and operate when it is convenient to them.
Southern Command officials noted that less Qassam rockets were launched at Israel in the past few days, adding that the IDF was continuing to work against the threat in many ways, including the current activity.
Since the rocket barrages which hit southern Israel on Independence Day, when Hamas attempted to also kidnap a soldier, the IDF has begun operating in the Gaza Strip in short and specific raids.
IDF sources explained that the various terror activities in the Strip – including the terrorists attempting to infiltrate Israel, explosive devices, tunnels and Qassams – required suitable activities, some of which were different from wide-scale operations which took place before the ceasefire in November 2006.
"The current activity, like the recent activities in the Strip, is defensive and aimed at thwarting threats – from Qassams to a tunnel through which a suicide bomber can infiltrate," a military source explained.
"At the moment this is the pattern of activity which is reaching its goals, and it will also be used in the future. We will be prepared for any development."