The terrorist organization understands that it is possible to continue to challenge Israel even in the days of the Corona • The opportunity to help Gaza in the Corona crisis in exchange for achievements in the negotiations was missed • Interpretation
Rocket launch from the Gaza Strip // Photo: Reuters
It is doubtful whether the launch of the rockets to Ashdod yesterday morning indicates a new trend in the Gaza Strip, but Israel should be concerned: efforts to regulate are faltering, and Israel has missed the opportunity to take advantage of the corona crisis in negotiations with Hamas.
The shooting itself took place at 2:40 a.m. from a Hamas-controlled area in the Beit Hanan area of the northern Gaza Strip.
The radar of the interception systems identified the launches, but the rockets were not intercepted before landing in the open sea. Until yesterday, the IDF officially refrained from officially confirming cases where rockets fell into the sea - and censorship disqualified it - arguing that this could provide information to the enemy and his servant in the future.
It is still too early to know whether the official announcement yesterday is a change in trend or an attempt to thwart criticism that the rockets were not intercepted.
One way or another, unlike previous times, the IDF was careful last night to determine that it was a technical malfunction that caused the rockets to be fired. In the absence of solid information, all options remained open: that Hamas wants to signal to Israel And decided to act on its own (as in quite a few recent events); or it is indeed a malfunction (although such a sequence of malfunctions is contrary to all statistical logic, even if one takes into account the poor Gaza maintenance).
Hamas itself did not provide information, and unlike previous cases, was also in no hurry to shake off the incident.
The organization contained the IDF counterattack - two logistical shafts used to bring the equipment into the underground tunnel system in the Gaza Strip - and both sides seem to have announced without words that the incident was closed.
But it is doubtful whether the reality on the ground will support this.
Although Hamas and Israel are not interested in a confrontation, and on the face of it, there are no signs of escalation or even spot warming, but reality has its own dynamics.
Gaza is shakier, hungrier and more desperate than ever, and talks for a broad or one-off arrangement are moving lazily.
Gaza also understands that it is doubtful whether things will move quickly before the Israeli elections, and even more likely - before a new government is formed here (and no one knows when that will happen).
It can be estimated with high certainty that by then someone, someday, will get upset in Gaza and challenge the security reality in the south again.
In recent months, Israel has had good cards in hand to change this reality fundamentally.
The Corona has put Israel at least twice on the side of those who could help Gaza.
The first time at the beginning of the crisis, about a year ago, when in Gaza they feared a collapse and were desperate to get immediate assistance, and the second time in the period between last November and early January, when in Gaza they feared being left without vaccines.
In both cases, Israel missed the opportunity to assist Gaza in exchange for achievements in negotiations, mainly in the humanitarian field (the return of the bodies of IDF martyrs Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, and the civilians Avra Mengistu and Hisham a-Sayed who are being held in the Gaza Strip).
It is jarring for the first time, and it is even more jarring for the second time: in Gaza they will receive the vaccines from Gulf states or from international organizations, Israel will not be able to resist, and Paz 'opportunity was just lost.
Worse, once Hamas realizes that the Corona will not collapse, it will act like the IDF cliché article - "What does not kill you - hardens you." For Israel, this is bad news: as always, whatever goes south in words will end in missiles.