A research report whose authors say is the "first comprehensive analysis of the Hamas buildup" reveals details of massive stockpiling of advancing weapons by Hamas, according to The New York Times. It quoted a senior official in Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office, who demanded anonymity, that his conclusion from the report is that Israel took the risk of letting Hamas use a period of calm to stockpile advanced weapons.
The Times obtained a copy of the report, which is to be released Thursday. Authored by the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, it states that "what is very clear is that Hamas, like Hizbullah in Lebanon, is aiming to use rocket fire to draw the Israeli military." Hamas began consolidating its power immediately after the Israeli government destroyed Jewish communities in Gush Katif and has smuggled more than 80 tons of explosives and anti-tank rockets similar to those used by Hizbullah in the Second Lebanon War two years ago.
The study warns that an additional truce recognized by Israel would allow Hamas to further its buildup in preparation for an IDF invasion of the region.