Israel's recent announcement that Iron Dome rocket interception system successfully passed a number of comprehensive tests during the last two days does not appear to have fazed armed Palestinian groups in Gaza. If they weren't "fazed", would they have reacted at all?
On Thursday, after seven mortars and a Qassam rocket were fired towards Israel's southern region, a spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, said its capabilities were constantly improving. Al-Quds Brigades is the armed wing of Islamic Jihad.
Speaking to Ynet, Abu Ahmed said, "The Israelis have long since spoken of methods to intercept our rockets but haven't succeeded in doing so. We know the Israelis are aware of the fact that our projectiles are manufactured locally, while the Iron Dome system (can intercept) the 'classic' and conventional rockets -- it cannot provide a solution to our rockets."
Abu Ahmed said that even if the Israeli system does prove to be effective against the Palestinian rockets, "We have proven that we are constantly improving and developing the means at our disposal, and I am certain we will be able to circumvent any Israeli attempt to damage our systems."
The Al-Quds spokesman accused the IDF of trying to escalate the situation along the Gaza-Israel border "despite the (armed Palestinian) groups' decision to (halt fire) in order to allow its men ample time to rest and regroup."
"(Israel) wants to drag us into a conflict that will include mass targeted killings in hopes that we will respond with rocket fire that won't cause any damage," he said. "The rockets may not cause a lot of damage, but they create a lot of fear in the Gaza vicinity."