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Hamas and Islamic Jihad Continue to Stockpile and Improve Their Rockets
(Al-Monitor) Shlomi Eldar - The latest conflict with Gaza, the most fatal since the 2014 war, created serious doubts among those in Israel who believe that improving Gaza's economy would ensure against the next war. It seems that every time, there's another reason or even a misunderstanding that drags the two sides to an armed conflict. In the meantime, Hamas and Islamic Jihad continue to stockpile more rockets, more powerful than the previous ones, and challenge the Iron Dome missile defense system with massive fire. According to intelligence sources, in 2019 Hamas has between 5,000 and 6,000 rockets, dozens of them with a range of more than 100 km. (62 miles). Islamic Jihad has 8,000 rockets, most of them short- and medium-range, but also several hundred long-range rockets that threaten the Tel Aviv region. These rockets, as of now, are not an existential threat to Israel, but Hamas and Islamic Jihad will certainly continue in their arms race toward the next conflict.