This past week the security situation in the Gaza Strip heated up with the renewal of IED balloon launchings into Israeli territory, on almost a daily basis. Several balloon clusters fell in the southern Israeli cites of Sderot and Ashdod, and near Beit Shemesh. Other clusters landed in Israeli communities in the western Negev. No casualties or damage were reported.

In ITIC assessment Hamas is behind the renewal of IED balloon launchings. Its intention is to exert pressure on Israel because of what it refers to as Israel’s “making difficulties” which prevent the implementation of the lull understandings. Another objective is to send a message to Egypt that the difficulties in Hamas-Egypt relations are liable to have negative consequences for the security situation in the Gaza Strip .

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