Hamas raises the strategic stakes, and an IDF invasion looms closer

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Although the death of Roni Yihye in a Kassam attack on Sderot Wednesday was this week's most tragic event, it was Thursday's direct strike by a Grad missile on an Ashkelon apartment building - even though it resulted in no serious injuries - that was by far the most worrying development in the Gaza situation.

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The fact that terror groups were able to fire up to 10 Grads at Ashkelon on Thursday demonstrated the new and far more dangerous strategic situation that now exists in the southwest corner of the country.

The breach in the border fence with Egypt last month has clearly allowed Hamas and Islamic Jihad to bring in a far more substantial stockpile of the weapon, as well as personnel who have been professionally trained abroad (in Iran, Syria or Lebanon) to effectively modify and launch the missiles.

What's more, the ability of these groups to now fire off multiple missiles in a relatively short time period indicates another significant technological advancement.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1204213984452&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

It looks like the residents of Gaza were looking for more than food when they tore down the wall. Escalation is not in Hama's interest - what are they thinking? What are they reasonably trying to accomplish?